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GRANDFATh 




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LIFE 



OF 



Our President 

Benjamin Harrison, 



TOGETHER WITH THAT OF 




MAP 20 1889 



y. ^ 



His Grandfatlier 

WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON 

The "Hero of Tippecanoe" and President 1841. 

I! 

THE ECONONY PRl NTl Ng'cO., 304 VI N E ST. CI NCI N N ATI, 
For LANE & MORRISON, Publishers, 
1889. 



\ 



i-^. 



PREFACE. 



To the CITIZENS and patriots of the United States 
this work is respectfully dedicated. 
The subject is a noble one. Whether in the pres- 
ent instance justice has been done to it or not, you 
must decide. It tells of a hero. Not of one like 
Napoleon, or Caesar, or Alexander — those proud op- 
pressors of mankind, who rose and flourished at the 
expense of the happiness of millions — but of a re- 
fublican hero — plain, unostentatious, and benevo- 
lent — of 2. patriot whose delight has been to serve 
his country, and contribute to the protection and 
comfort of the defenceless inhabitants of our fron- 
tier. It tells of one, who, forsaking the scenes of his 
youth and the pleasures of society, went forth into 
our w^estern wilds and amid toils, privations, and 
sufferings, raised himself to honor and influence by 
his own personal efforts. He entered the army. 
He fought with savages. He drove them from the 
unprotected and defenceless habitation of the widow. 
He established peace ; and now vv^here comparatively 
only a few years since the war-whoop carried con- 
sternation, there are fellow- citizens dwelling in safety; 



4 PREFACE. 

and v/here once were the habitations of cruelty, are 
seen the temples of the Living God. 

It tells us of a hero, who, having achieved the se- 
curity and independence of the West, returned, like 
Washington at an earlier day, to private life, to 
the cultivation of a farm, to the quiet and unosten- 
tatious residence of a Log Cabin more honorable 
than the gorgeous palaces of the eastern world. 

Such men are an honor to our country. We have 
had many such, to whom the people of the United 
States could "look up to in time of danger,'"' who 
guided our councils, who led our armies, who 
achieved our independence. 

But they are nearly all gone. A few noble stocks 
remain. Let us do them honor. Let us show them 
gratitude. Let us employ their wisdom and expe- 
rience in times of difficulty and trial. 

Therefore, from what better stock could we 
choose a captain to stand at the helm of State and 
steer our glorious i^arty through the intricate chan- 
nels of statesmanship? and in electing Benj. Har- 
rison (grandson of this grand old hero) as Presi- 
dent we have every confidence that such an one has 
been choosen to fill the position. 

Added to the life of his grandfather, we have ap- 
pended a brief review of his career up the present 
time ; and in bringing this work before the public, we 
trust that any shortcomings vv'ill be over-looked. 



PREFACE. iy 

'i'herefore with sincere and heartfelt wishes that the 
future may bring a term of prosperity to the country 
at large under his administration, such as we have 
never before experienced, we submit this work to 
your kin dindulgence, and respectfully make our bow. 
Remaining your well-wishers, 

The Auihors. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 

Wherein Jose T^aiTe meets with an adventure, \\hich lays 
the foundation of the present volume, 7 

CHAPTER H. 

Some explanations; in making which, certain new actors 
appear on the stage. Jose learns who the "Hero of 
Tippecanoe" is, 12 

CHAPTER HI. 

Conversation at Captain Earle's about the Hero of Tippeca- 
noe, during which Captain talks more than all the rest . 23 

CHAPTER IV. 

Captain Earle continues his conversations, in which he tells 
about further troubles with the Indians, and a decisive 
victory over them 36 

CHAPTER V. 

Captain Earle tells about the battle of Tippecanoe, ... 46 

CHAPTER VI. 

A short chapter, in which Captain Earle tells some anecdotes 
of the "old Hero," 58 

CHAPTER VII. 

Captain Earle tells about the Siege of Fort Meigs and Bat- 
tle of the Thames.— Death of Tecumseh.— Anecdotes, 64 

CHAPTER VIII. 
Captain Earle spends an evening in telling anecdotes about 
General Harrison, . " ^6 

CHAPTER IX. 
The "Hero of Tippecanoe" elected President by Captain 
Earle and his family, 9b 

CHAPTER X. 

A sketch of the life of P.enj. Harrison our present presi- 
dent 104 



THE HERO OE TIPPECANOE 




Jose Earle hears of the General in a grocery store. 



CHAPTER I. 

WJiereiii Jose Earle meets v:ith an adventure ifhirJt /«//••< the 
fonndation of the present volume. 

"The Hero of Tippecanoe!"— ''The Hero of Tip- 
pecanoe!" The words rang in the ears of little 
Jose Earle, as he returned towards home from a 
grocery, where he had been to purchase a few pounds 
of sugar for his mother. 'T wonder who this Hero 
of Tippecanoe can be ?" 



8 GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 

While Standing at the counter, waiting for "the 
clerk to put up the article he wished, his attention 
has been drawn to a somewhat spirited, but by no 
means angry, conversation between several men of 
the village, as to the merits of this said "Hero.'* 
He v/as not present when the conversation was be- 
gun. One said he was a good soldier; another that 
he was a famous general; and so they went round, 
talking of the battles he had fought — of the Indians 
he had taken ; and, finally, some half-dozen declared, 
that they almost knew he would be Frcsidcnt of the 
United States. 

*'I'll venture a mug of ale on that;" said a surly- 
looking man, stepping forward, and addressing him- 
self to one of the individuals in the circle. 

*'I never bet," said the man ; "it is against ni}'- 
principles; but if I were going to bet, it wouldn't 
hQ ale, but a little ^hard cider,^^' — with a peculiar 
emphasis on the two last words; "but I don't bet." 

"Well, well," said the man, "let that pass, but he 
won't be president, this year, nor next — " 

"I didn't know about nextye:xx ; but I T^t\\QY guess 
on the 4th of March, 1S41, his Log Cabin will be 
exchanged for the White House. " 

''Never — never," said the man, Avith some 
warmth; "he'll never see the inside of that house, 
unless he dines with Martin Van Buren.'* 

"So you think?" 



GRANDFATHER AXD GRANDSON. 9 

"Yes, so I think — so I — " 

He was going to say, ' 'so I know f but, like a wise 
man, he checked himself and said, ^'believe." 

Jose was an attentive listener to the conversation, 
during which he had tried hard to learn who this 
*'Hero of Tippecanoe" was. He knew that it did 
not mean Mr. Van Buren. He never heard Im/t 
called a hero ; and he concluded they did not mean 
General Jackson, for he was called the "Hero of 
New Orleans." Whom did they mean ? That was 
more than he could tell. The name sounded mu- 
sical, and even heroic, and he waited quite im- 
patiently to learn who the hero was. 

But something whispered, or seemed to whisper, 
in Jose's ear, that he must not stay any longer, even 
to gratify a laudable curiosity. His mother had 
taught him — and certainly it is a good lesson for all 
boys to learn and practice — to do an errand, and 
return as quickly as possibe. 

Accordingly, although the conversation was still 
going on, Jose retreated towards the door, but rath- 
er slowly ; and even when his fingers were on the 
latch, he was half inclined to step back, and ask a 
man in the circle whom he knew, about whom they 
were talking ; but a commendable modesty kept him 
back. His curiosity, however, had been too much 
excited to remain long quiet ; and, determining to 
gratify it in another place, he opened the door, and 
directed his step homeward. 



10 GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 

Jose, my readers must know was quite young; 
and, while most lads of his age might, perhaps, have 
answered the question, it was out of his power. 
And a good reason existed for his ignorance. He 
had recently returned home, from having lived with 
a maiden aunt, where the subject of politics was as 
little likely to be discussed, as who would be the next 
king of England or France. Jose was not aware 
that a new presidential election was drawing near, 
nor that the conversation to which he had listened 
was turning upon the merits of the several candi- 
dates for that office before the public. But Jose had 
a good memory, from which a name so charming to 
his ear was not likely to escape, or if there was any 
real danger in the case, his frequent repetition of it, 
as he sauntered along, was sufficient to keep it alive. 
Indeed, had there been any passers-by, it is quite 
probable they would have heard him humming a kind 
of tune: "The Hero — the Hero — the Hero of 
Tip — the Hero of Tippecanoe ! Tippecanoe !" 

Soon after turning a corner in sight of his fa- 
ther's, he descried at some distance before him a 
school-fellow by the name of Jimmy Goodspeed. 

"Jimmy — Jimmy — Jimmiy Goodspeed !" holloed 
Jose, "stop!" 

"What do you want, Jose?'' 

"Wait, and I'll tell you." 

"Well, make haste. If your legs were as long 



GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 11 

again, you'd walk a little faster when a fellow is 
waiting for you." 

"I'm almost out of breath now," said Jose, as he 
■came up, his face glowing with animation. 

''Well, what's your wish, Jose? shall I help you 
■carry your bundle?" 

"Oh, no," said Jose, "I can carry that. What I 
want is, to know whether you ever heard of — f/iere, 
now, you've almost made me forget what I was go- 
ing to say. Have you ever heard of — of — oh, I 
know now of 'The Hero of Tippecanoe ?' " 

"Heard of him ? ha, ha., ha? Why, child, more 
times than you ever eat supper in all your life. But 
he's no great things." 

"But who is he ?" said Jose, "that was my ques- 
tion. They don't mean General Jackson, do they?" 

"Take care, Jose, my friend. Jose, take care how 
you talk about General Jackson. I'm a true Jack- 
son man, do you know that ?" 

"I didn't mean any harm, Jimmy; but I heard 
some men up at Peter Crowfoot's store talking rath- 
er loud and fast about the 'Hero of Tippecanoe,' 
and I thought you could tell me. " 

"Well, I suppose I could, but I don't want to talk 
about him ; besides, you are to young to talk poli- 
tics, Jose." 

The lads here separated, Jose having arrived at 
his father's. Jimmy had still further to go, and bid- 
ding his little friend good-morning, said: 



12 GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 

'"Log cabin and hard cider' won't be president 
this year or next, mark my word, Joe." 

Jose tried to laugh, but as he didn't understand 
what was meant, he made a poor figure of it; but as 
the gate swung to, he said ''Well, Jimmy, you'll 
not find me so ignorant next time we meet. Father, 
I guess, knows all about the matter." 

Jimmy plodded on. He was the son of a true 
Jacksonian, and of course felt and talked just as his 
father did. He tried to believe that Mr. Van Buren 
would be elected president again, because his father 
tried to believe so ; but he had heard his father say 
there began to be some doubt. Strange alterations 
Avere taking place. Matters didn't work well. The 
times were hard. Jimmy's father didn't get as much 
work as he had done; and when he did, not much 
more than half as much in price, and very little 
money. Jimmy fell into quite a serious train of re- 
flection after leaving Jose; and, I believe, before 
he reached the place to which he was going, a coup- 
let, which he had either seen, or himself manufac- 
tured, was occupying his thoughts. I do not know 
that he sung it, but quite likely he did; for who did 
not begin to sing something like it ? 

Tippy, old Tippy, I very much fear, 

You'll take the Great Chair the very next year. 




( 'aptain Earle conversing with his family. 



CHAPTER II. 

Some explanations ; in making which, certain new actors ap- 
pear on the stage. Jose learns who the ^^Hero of Tip- 
picanoe^^ is. 

It is quite time to introduce our readers to the 
family of Captain Earle, the father of our friend 
Jose. But a few words will suffice to give such ke- 
tails of his history, as are important to our purpose. 

Captain Earle I shall suppose to have been an 
officer of the army, during a considerable part of 
Mr. Madison's war. He served with great reputa- 



14 GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON, 

tion, v/as in several battles at the West, and was 
most enthusiastically attached, as most of the officers 
of the northwestern army were, to their brave com- 
mander, General William Henry Harrison. 

At the close of the war, he returned to his native 
state; and after living some years a bachelor, mar- 
ried the daughter of a military officer, who v/as con- 
siderably his senior in the army, and settled in the 
village of . 

He had several sons. His eldest he named Wil- 
liam Henry Harrison, after his admired general, 
with whom he had an intimate and honorable ac- 
quaintance. In respect to the name of his second 
son, we must premise an explanation. Being him- 
self a military man, it was natural that, like most of 
the military men of the country, he should have been 
attached to the cause of General Jackson. As a 
military hero, there was much to admire in the gen- 
eral's character. But he was thought by some to be 
arbitrary, and in some cases cruel. Still, he was. 
bold and successful. At Nev/ Orleans, he had 
achieved a victory which established his reputation. 
Captain Earle was among the number who thought 
that he would shine in the cabinet as he had done in. 
the field ; and, besides, in common with others, he 
felt a sort of gratitude to a man, who had long per- 
illed his life and happiness among savages for his 
country. He supported him, therefore, for the presi- 



GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 15 

dency, and, like a good many others, on the birth of 
his second son, he named him Andrew Jackson, after 
the genera], who had at the time just entered upon 
his office as president. His third son bore the name 
of Thomas ; and his fourth and last, the hero of the 
adventure related in the first chapter, Joseph or, as 
he was more commonly called, Jose. The two latter 
were family names; the one, that of an only brother 
of the captain, and the other, that of a brother of 
his wife. Mrs. Earle was a woman of strong good 
sense, quite domestic, but not unconcerned in all that 
interested her husband and his fortunes; and, being 
the daughter of a patriot, she had early learned to 
love and desire the welfare of her country. 

But Captain Earle, like thousands of others, was 
deceived in the ability of General Jackson to wield 
successfully the destinies of America. He knew his 
reputation as a military man, and he fondly imagined 
that he would be equally successful as president of 
the United States; but he was sadly disappointed. 
He watched the progress of his administration, and 
was grieved to find that within a fev/ years the coun- 
try, which was so prosj^erous, became so embarrass- 
ed and disturbed. But, like others, he had enlisted 
himself — it v/as known that he was one of the Jack- 
son party — he had talked, written, and acted for 
and with that party. When, in 1837, General Jack- 
son intimated his intention to retire, and General 



If) GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 

Harrison was brought out as a candidate, Captain 
Earle had quite a struggle in his own feeUngs what 
to do. He preferred his old friend, General Harris- 
son, but then he belonged to the Jackson party, and 
his circumstances did not then seem to admit of his 
enlisting even for an old friend. So he voted for 
Mr. Van Buren. But he soon saw his error, and 
most heartily repented. I\Ir. Van Buren's measures, 
he became satisfied, were still worse than those of 
General Jackson. 

The change which thus came over Captain Earle 
he was not slow to avow; and as the time ap- 
proached for the election of a new president. Captain 
Earle would say, ''I can go no longer for Mr. Van Bu- 
ren, nor for any administration whose principles and 
measures are like his. " 

I have heard him sit down and talk after this man- 
ner: 

*'If I had a ship which always made long and un- 
profitable voyages, which brought me in debt, instead 
of adding to my gains, I should be quite likely to 
inquire into the matter. Why does this ship do so 
poorly, v^^hen others do so well In the same trade? 
Is she a bad ship ? are her sails poor ? is her rudder 
too small? or what is the m.attter? Perhaps her 
captain is in fault. But he had a high reputation 
when I first employed him. Almost every one said 
he would do well — he made fair promises — and 



i 






GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 17 

really appeared to be honest and well-meaning. But 
then the ship dosen^t work well. And yet she was 
projected and built by the very first mechanics, and 
has been examined by them repeatedly, and they say 
the reason why she makes poor voyages is not that 
the ship is in fault ; she has made good voyages, and 
would make them again, if she had a inore co7npetent 
captain. 

''Now," said Captain Earle, ''in such a case, what 
should I be likely to do ? Why, notwithstanding the 
reputation of my captain, I should be quite likely to 
change him for another. I might think him honest 
and well-disposed ; but still I should say, I can not 
afford to lose every thing to gratify him, or keep 
him in a. good berth. I will try attother captain, and 
see whether the old ship won^t do better. ^^ 

So Captain Earle reasons ; and not a few of his 
neighbors, who value his opinions because they 
think him a wise and good man, have adopted them, 
and say the ship must have a new captain. The 
right ropes arc not pulled. The right course is not 
pursued. One voyage under General Jackson prov- 
ed a bad \!)ne, and so has that under Mr. Van Buren. 
Even if they are honest and well-disposed, they are 
not capable. The ship goes wrong. We must try 
another captain. 

At the time our friend Jose arrived from the gro- 
cery, the tea was ready and waiting. Captain Earle, 



18 GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 

who was reading a newspaper which had just ar- 
rived, though deeply interested in the views it con- 
tained, laid it aside, and the family were soon en- 
gaged in taking their tea. 

Jose was in his usual place, and for once seemed 
to be quite absorbed in his own thoughts, until Cap- 
tain Earle remarked to his wife that really the "old 
Hero's" prospects of success were brightening every 
day. 

At the mention of the "old hero," Jose seemed 
to wake up as from a dream. "Father," said he, "I 
heard some men up at the store talking about the 
'Hero of Tippecanoe.' Pray, who is he? I never 
heard of such a hero." 

"Why, my son, never heard of your father's old 
general! but you are a small boy. You have heard 
of the 'Here of New Orleans?' " 

"Yes, si»," said Jose; "brother Andrew was nam- 
ed after him, but I don't think Andrew much of a 
hero." 

"Your opinion, Jose, settles that point, I suppose 
you think," said Andrew; "but I shall stick to the 
'Hero of New Orleans,' a Httle longer, I believe." 

"I should think you would like to change your 
name," said Thomas, "so much is said against Gen- 
eral Jackson now-a-days." 

<'No — not I, I wish I were half as brave as the 
old general is." 



GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 19 

"Names are but of small importance, my chil- 
dren," said Mrs. Earle; '-it is far more important 
to be wise and good. " 

''But, father," said Jose, who had stopped eadng, 
''you've not told me who the 'Hero of Tippecanoe' 
is. I asked Jimmy Goodspeed, but — " 

"Well, and what did Jimmy say?" 

"Why, he said he new, but he did not like to 
talk about him," 

Captain Earle smiled. "There are many," said 
he, "who feel very much as Jimmy does. They do 
not like to read, hear, or talk about him. But you 
v/ish to know who he is; let me introduce you to 
him across the table. Master Williain Henry Ha?'- 
rison.'''' 

"William! What, William, are you the 'Hero 
of Tippecanoe ?' " said Jose. 

"Don't you think I ami? don't I look like a hero?" 

"You would look, I think, a little more like one," 
said Jose, if you sat up a little straighter. " 

"Why, Jose, you seemx to be quite sharp this even- 
ing," said WiUiam. "I'll try to be a hero, then. 
There! what do you say now ?" 

"I am glad master Jose has such a correct idea 
of a hero," said Mrs. Earle; -straight in body; 
but it is equally essential to the true hero, that he 
should be straight or upright, in mind. " 

"Well, let us now answer Jose's inquiry," said 



J^O GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 

Captain Earle. "The 'Hero of Tippecanoe ' is 
William Henry Harriso7i, a famous general, who 
lives in Ohio, and who commanded the northwestern 
army during the late war with England." 

''Was William, named after him?" said Jose. 

"Yes, my son. I served under General Harrison 
during a considerable part of the war. He is a 
good man. I knew him well, and I wish all the 
American people knew him as well as I do. There 
would then be little doubt of his election." 

"Some men up at the store," interrupted Jose, 
"said he is going to be president; but one man, 
who appeared almost angry, declared he never would 
be." 

"He meant, he hoped he wouldn't be. There are 
many who hope so, but more, I suspect, who hope 
he will be. A great change is taking place. I read 
a fine song this evening in the paper, entitled 'Old 
Tip.' Here it is. ' The last verse runs thus: 

*The people are coming, from plain and from mountain, 

To join the brave band of the honest and iree, 
Which grows, as the stream from the leaf-sheltered fountain, 

Spreads broad and more broad till it reaches the sea j 
No strength can restrain it, no force can retain it, 

Whate'er may resist, it breaks gallantly through, 
And borne by its motion as a ship on the ocean, 
Speeds on in his glory old Tippecanoe, 

The iron-hearted soldier, the true-hearted soldier, 
The gallant old soldier of Tippecanoe.' 



GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 21 

"They are 'coming' — 'the people' — the 'people 
from plain and from mountain," said Captain Earle, 
"There is no stopping the progress of this en- 
thusiasm. It rolls on, and, for aught I know, it will 
roll. General Harrison will, I think, take possession 
of the 'White House' March 4, 1841." 

"You will be the first to go and congratulate him^ 
I conclude," said Andrew, rather significantly, "yoa 
like him so much, father." 

"I do like him, my son," replied Captain Earle, 
"and I have great reason for my regard." 

"You once thought highly of Andrew Jackson." 

^^ Andrew Jackson Earle I love now, and trust I 
shall ever have reason to love him. I did once re- 
gard General Andrew Jackson with much favor, but 
as president of the United States he has disappoint- 
ed me." 

"Father, when you go to see President Harrison^, 
may I go too?" inquired Jose. 

'*It will be time enough to decide that question 
when he is elected." 

"But you said, you believe he will be elected." 

"I do, my son, I hope he will, I believe he wilL 
He is an able and a good man, and has done much, 
for his country. He deserves well of it." 

"Father," said Thomas, "I was just going to ask 
you to tell us something about his life. You must 
know a good deal about him." 



22 GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 

"So do, said Jose ; "I love to hear stories." 
"There are many interesting incidents in the Ufe 
of General Harrison," said Captain Earle. "It will 
give me pleasure to relate them. After the table is 
removed, and I have written a letter, I will at least 
make a beginning." 




f^?J 



Young Harrison reading the commission of ensign from Gen. 

Washington. 

CHAPTER III. 

Conversation at Captain Earle's about the ''Hero of Tippe- 
canoe,'' during ivhich the Captain talks more than all the 
rest. 

We left Captain Earle and his family still at the 
tea-table, making arrangements for spending the 
evening in reciting and listening to some recollec- 
tions of the "old Hero! " Which of the group was 
the more pleased with the proposal, the father or 
the sons, I cannot undertake to say; but there was 



24 GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 

more than ordinary despatch that evening in writing 
the letter to which the former alluded at the table as 
necessary to be done ; and nearly as soon as Mrs. 
Earle had adjusted the sitting room for the evening, 
the several parties made their appearance. A table 
was occupying the centre of the room, around which 
they took their seats, and on which Captain Earle 
laid several papers, which he said he might need by 
way of illustration in the progress of his remarks. 

''This is a happy hour," said the captain, as he 
drew a chair to the table. *'I love to know that my 
sons are fond of hearing about the history of their 
country, and of the men who have fought her battles^ 
and have figured in her councils. We have had 
many great men — noble men — patriots, who sacri- 
ficed ease, health, fortune, and life for their country. 
But they have passed away. All who braved the 
storms of the revolution are already gone. But 

Theirs is no vulgar sepulchre ; green sods 
Are all their monument — and yet it tells 
A nobler history than pillar'd pile, 
Or the eternal pyramid. They need 
No statue, nor inscription to reveal 
Their greatness. 

'T delight to converse with them, even if they are 
gone, or going — to dwell upon their exalted patriot- 
ism — their firmness in the day of peril — their ad- 
herence to principle, at the hazard of their fives — 



GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 2d 

their faith and steadfastness, when shipwreck and 
ruin stared them in the face — their fortitude under 
privation and suffering — their magnanimity and sym- 
pathy in the day of victory and triumph. I hope, 
my sons, you will read their history, and I am sure 
you will venerate and love them. Imitate their vir- 
tues, their patriotism, their piety, and I shall feel 
proud of my sons." 

''Father," said Jose, "I thought you were going to 
tell about General Harrison — " 

"Don't be so fast, Jose," said William; "I'm sure 
I should like to hear father talk thus all night. " 

"You do me great honor, my son," said Captain 
Earle. "On such a theme I scarcely know when to 
stop. But it is time, I believe, to gratify Jose. 

"WiUiam Henry Harrison is a native of Virginia. 
His birthplace is Berkley, a town or village situated 
on the banks of James River, about twenty-five miles 
below Richmond, and forty miles above Jamestown. 

"At this place William Henry Harrison was born, 
February 9th, 1778." 

"He is quite an old man," said Andrew, "as old, 
I guess, as my namesake ; and no one would think 
of so old a man for president as General Jackson is 
now." 

"You mistake, my son," said Captain Earle. 
"General Jackson was born on the 15th of March, 
1767. Hence he is six years older than General 
Harrison. 



26 GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 

''William Henry was the third and youngest son 
of Benjamin Harrison, who was a distinguished 
man in Virginia, and a member of the celebrated 
congress of 1774 and 1776." 

"My history of the United States says he was 
one w\iO signed the Declaration of Indepetidence,^' said 
Thomas. 

*'I am glad you so well recollect your history," 
said Captain Earle. "That was a noble body of 
men, and as long as America lasts, their boldness in 
signing and pubhshing that Declaration will be re- 
membered v/ith patriotism." 

"Father," observed William, "you speak of bold- 
ness, I don't see what great courage was needed." 

"It is because of your ignorance, my son. The 
Declaration of Independence was one of the boldest 
acts of the revolution. Napoleon never took a 
bolder step. There were thirteen colonies; but 
they w^ere feeble, with less than three millions of 
people, no veteran army, no navy, no arsenals 
but barns, no munitions of war, scarcely a fortifi- 
cation, no public treasury, no power to lay a tax, 
and no credit upon which to obtain a loan. 

"Was there nothing bold in such a people rising 
lip against England, and saying they were free, and 
would be free and independent ? England was the 
mistress of the world ; her armies were numerous, 
her soldiers veterans, her navy unrivalled, her 



<;randfather and grandson. 27 

statesmen subtle and sagacious, her generals skilful 
and practised. 

"All this the congress of '76 well knew. And 
they knew that if they published that Declaration, 
and any one of them should be taken by the Eng- 
lish, he would be hung. And this was quite likely 
to come to pass. It was a solemn time therefore 
with them, and a solemn question, whether they 
should make such a declaration. 

"But the question went round. 'Shall the Decla- 
ration be adopted?' Each rose and saiH ' Ves.' 
William Henry Harrison's father was there, and he 
said ' Vcs.^ The whole fifty-six said 'Yes' — not a 
sohtary 'A^ay. ' It was a great occasion. In due 
time, after the question was taken, the Declaration 
was written neatly and fairly on parchment, which 
was brought in to be signed by the several mem- 
bers. 

'■'■Jolui Hancock being president, signed his name 
first. It is remakable how strong he bore down 
upon his pen. It seemed as if he meant to say, 'If 
this be an act of treason, it shall be treason indeed.' 
Each one followed him, each wrote his name with 
the same pen, and that pen is still preserved. 

"Benjamin Harrison, the father of William Henry, 
was among the number; and there his name will 
stand, and the names of his patriotic associates, as 
long as America lasts, a noble monument of their 
xourage, patriotism 2iX\^ fidelity. 



28 GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 

*'I don't mean to intimate, my children," con- 
tinued Captain Earle, ' 'that any one has a claim to 
office because his ancestors were great and honorable^ 
or because they performed eminent service to 
their country. But a virtuous, high-minded, and 
useful ancestry, is always regarded as honorable. 
We are so made as to put this estimate upon it ; and 
he that is so fortunate as to have such ancestors^ 
should feel his responsibility to imitate their virtues. 
It is a powerful motive to pattern after them; and 
the instances are not few in the country, where 
sons, much to their honor, have followed in the foot- 
steps of their illustrious sires. William Henry Har- 
rison is a fine example. 

"I shall only add in respect to his father, that he 
afterwards held several distinguished offices in Vir- 
ginia, and among them that of governor. At length 
he died, 1791, leaving behind him the reputation of 
a devoted patriot, an able counsellor, and a useful 
man." 

"Many of the patriots of the revolution died 
comparatively poor. They had no opportunity to 
acquire wealth, as their' time, talents, and services 
were devoted to a country too poor to remunerate 
them. The little fortunes which they had acquired, 
were expended for their families while they were 
busy in the councils, and not a few of them were 
obliged to advance funds to aid in carrying forward 



GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 29 

the measures which their wisdom and patriotism de- 
cided to be necessary. Governor Harrison was 
among the number. He left his children little more 
than his example, and the good-will of his contem- 
porary patriots. 

"William Henry was at this time in the collep^e 
of Hampden Sidney, pursuing his studies, prepara- 
tory to the study of medicine. As he was under 
age when his father died, Robert Morris, another 
distinguished man, consented to act as his guardian. 

''Just about this time the country became greatly 
alarmed, in consequence of the ravages of Indi- 
ans of the northwestern frontier. These tribes em- 
braced the Miamies, Hurons, Delawares, Chippewas, 
and several others. They were powerful and war- 
like. The country was thinly inhabited. FamiHes 
were exposed to their deadly hostility ; and, in not 
a few instances, women and children were suddenly 
assaulted, and either barbarously wounded or carried 
into a long and distressing captivity. 

"In 1790, General Harmar was appointed to take 
the field against these Indians. His force was about 
fifteen hundred men; three hundred and twenty of 
whom were regular troops, the rest militia. 

"On the 30th of September, General Harmar set 
forth with his troops from Fort Washington, a fort 
which stood on a spot near which the city of Cin- 
cinnati has since been built. His object was to bring 



30 



GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 



the Indians to an engagement, or, if that could not 
be effected, to destroy their settlement on the wa- 
ters of the Scioto and Wabash. 

'"General Harmar had been an officer in the rev- 
olutionary war. and great things were expected of 
him. He succeeded in destroying some villages, 
and considerable quantities of com. which the Indi- 
ans had laid in store for the winter. But on his 
return, having arrived within eight miles of Chili- 
cothe. he halted, with a view of doinar somethinsr 
more for his honor and that of his armv. 

•'From this place he detached three hundred and 
sixty men. with orders to find the enemy and attack 
them. This they did. But the engagement was 
unfortunate for the Americans. A considerable* 
number of Indians were killed, but not less than one 
hundred of the mihtia fell durin;? the enslavement, 
among whom were ten officers. The survivors 
hastily retreated, and having joined the main body, 
the whole returned to Fort Washina^ton. 

"The result of this expedition was severely felt 
and deeply deplored. General Harmar was removed, 
and Major-general Arthur St. Clair was appointed 
to succeed him. 

••Washington, at chat nme being president, was 
anxious to do all in his power to protect the fron- 
tier, and congress having voted him large sums to 
carrv on the war. he ordered General St. Clair to 



GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. ol 

undertake an expedition, in which he was directed 
to destroy the Indian villages on the.Miami, and to 
expel the savages from the country. 

"Troops were enlisted slowly, and not until Sep- 
tember had St. Clair such a number as he deemed 
necessary to enter upon the campaign. On the ord 
of November, with fourteen hundred men, he en- 
camped on a commanding ground about fifteen miles 
south of the ^^iami village. The militia took a 
position across a creek, in advance of the regular 
soldiers. 

••The next morning, about half an hour before 
sunrise, a body of Indians suddenly attacked the 
militia, who immediately fled across the creek, and 
rushing in where the regular soldiers were encamp- 
ed, threw them into confusion. The officers sprung 
forward, and endeavored to rally their men. The 
Indians pursued with savage yells. The battle be- 
came terrible. The American soldiers poured in 
their fire, and the cannon spread destruction on 
every side, the Indians pressing up to their very 
mouths. • 

••Atlen2:th resort was had to the bavonet ; and 
now, for a short time, the Indians fell back: but 
they ralhed again. The gallant General Butler fell, 
mortally wounded. But I can not." said Captain 
Earle. ''pursue further the details of this disastrous 
contest. The defeat of the Americans was signal, 



^^2 GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 

and the destruction appalling. Thirty-eight com- 
missioned officers were killed on the field, and five 
hundred and ninety-three non-commissioned officers 
and privates were slain or missing. Between two 
and three hundred officers and privates were wound- 
ed, many of whom afterwards died. 

"But it is time to return to our young friend, 
William Henry Harrison. He was, as I said, at this 
time a member of college. The Indian war at the 
west was engaging the attention of the country. 
The spirits of many were roused, and young Harrison 
was among the number. He panted for the field — 
he longed for an opportunity to distinguish himself; 
arrd, at length, he determined to abandon the halls of 
college, and seek his fortune in the wilds of the west. 

"Robert Morris, his guardian, for a time opposed 
his design; but Washington, who had been an inti- 
mate friend of his father's, encouraged his youthful 
genius, and gave him a commission, as^ensign, in the 
First Regiment of United States Artillery, then sta- 
tioned at Fort Washington, on the Ohio. 

"Ensign Harrison, yet only eighteen years of age, 
soon departed for the scene of his toils. He was 
young, ardent, and ambitious. He reached Fort 
Washington shortly after St. Clair's defeat, and there 
entered upon that line of services wi.Ich for a period 
of nearly forty years he continued; in all which he 
sustained a reputation most honorable to himself and 
useful to his country. 



GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. o3 

**I do not design, my children," said Captain 
"Earle, "to follow Harrison through the various inci- 
dents of his life. They are so many, and so various, 
and so connected and interwoven with the history 
■of the country, that it would prove tedious to your 
youthful minds. I will give you, in one view, the 
'Outlines of his eventful life, and afterwards notice 
such particular incidents as may seem most striking 
•and important." 

Here taking a paper from the table, he read as 
follows : 

"William H. Harrison was born in Virginia, on 
the 9th of February, 1773. 

"In 1791, when nineteen years of age, he was 
appointed by Washington an ensign in our infant 
■army. 

"In 1792, he was promoted to the rank of lieu- 
tenant; and in 1793 he joined the legion under 
General W^ayne, and in a few days thereafter was 
selected by him as one of his aids. 

"On the 24th of August, 1794, he distinguished 
liimself in the battle of the Miami, and elicited the 
most flattering written approbation of General 
Wayne. 

"In 1795, he.vas made captain, and was placed 
in command of Fort Washington. 

"In 1797, he was appointed, by President Adams, 
secretary of the Northwestern Territory, and ex- 
vfficio, lieutenant-governor . 



34 GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 

*'In 1798, he was chosen a delegate to congress. 

*'In 1801, he was appointed governor of Indiana; 
and in the same year, President Jefferson appointed 
him sole commissioner for treating with the Indians. 

**In 1809, he was reappointed governor of Indiana 
by Madison. 

''On the 6th of November, 1811, he gained the 
great battle of Tippecanoe. 

"On the 11th of September, 1812, he was ap- 
pointed by Madison commander-in-chief of the 
northwestern army. 

''On the 28th of April, 1813, the siege of Fort 
Meigs commenced, lasted twelve days, and was 
terminated by the brilliant and successful sortie of 
General Harrison. 

*'0n the 31st of July, 1813, the battle of Fort 
Stephenson occurred. 

''On the 5th of October, 1813, he gained the 
splendid victory of the Thames^ over the British and 
Indians under Proctor. 

"In 1814, he was appointed by Madison one of 
the commissioners to treat with the Indians ; and in 
the same year, with his colleagues, Governor Shelby 
and General Cass, concluded his celebrated treaty 
of Greenville. 

"In 1815, he was again appointed such commis- 
sioner with General McArthur and Mr. Graham, 
and negotiated a treaty at Detroit. 



GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 35» 

"In 1816, he was elected a member of congress. 

"In January, 1818, he introduced a resolution in 
honor of Kosciusko, and supported it in one of the- 
most feehng, classical, and eloquent speeches ever 
made in the house of representatives. 

"In 1819, he was elected a member of the Ohio- 
senate. 

"In 1824, he was elected senator in congress, nnd' 
was appointed in 1825 chairman of the miHtary 
committee in place of General Jackson, who had re^ 
signed. 

"In 1827, he was appointed minister to Colombia,, 
and in 1828 wrote his immortal letter to Bohvar, the 
deliverer of South America." 

"We will here conclude our relations to-night," 
said Captain Earle, "and, if alive and well, will re- 
sume to-morrow evening." 




Escort of the Packhorses. 

CHAPTER IV. 

Captain Earle continues his conversation, in which he tells 
about further troubles vnth the Indians, and a decisive 
.victory over them. 

At an early hour on the evening following, Cap- 
tain Earle and his family were again seated round 
4:he table. He had become deeply interested in the 
recollections of former events himself, and there was 
no lack of attention on the part of his youthful au- 
ditors. 

36 



GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. ST 

"I told you last evening, my children, that I did 
not purpose a regular biography of the 'Hero of 
Tippecanoe,' only sketches of some of the most 
prominent incidents of his life. This will be suffi- 
cient for m.y purpose, and will be more interesting: 
to you. 

''He reacl#d Fort Washington, as I stated, soon 
after the defeat of St. Clair's army. That defeat 
was unexpected, and produced great consternation 
through the country. The depredations of the sav- 
ages became more furious and ferocious than ever; 
and tragical scenes were enacted in various places 
along the frontier, and even in some of the most 
populous sections of the country. 

*'I could relate many affecting incidents which 
occurred, but wull content myself with one, which 
happened somewhere about this time, and v/hich wilL 
serve to show the temper of the savages, and the 
boldness and intrepidity of the frontier inhabitants.. 

''A dwelling-house, I believe in some part of Ken- 
tucky, not far from the borders of the Ohio, was at- 
tacked by a party of Indians. The proprietor, Mr.. 
Merrill, was alarmed by the barking of his dog. 
On going to the door, he received the fire of the as- 
sailants, which broke his right leg and' arm. The>^ 
attempted to enter the house, but were anticipated 
in their movem^ent by Mrs. Merrill and her daughter, 
Vv-ho closed the door in so effectual a manner as to 



38 GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 

Iceep them at bay. They next began to hew a pas- 
sage through the door, and one of the worriors at- 
tempted to enter through the aperture; but the re- 
solute mother, seizing an axe, gave him a fatal blow 
upon the head, and then, with the assistance of her 
-daughter, drew his body in. His companions with- 
out, not apprised of his fate, but suppoting him suc- 
cessful, followed through the same aperture, and 
four of the number were thus killed before their 
mistake was discovered. They now retired a few 
moments, but soon returned, and renewed their exer- 
tions to force the house. 

' * 'Despairing of entering by the door, they climbed 
upon the roof, and made an effort to descend by the 
chimney. Mr. Merrill directed his little son to 
empty the contents of a large feather bed upon the 
iire, which soon caused so dense a smoke, as nearly 
to suffocate those who made this desperate attempt, 
and two of them fell into the fireplace. The mo- 
ment was critical ; the mother and daughter could 
not quit their stations at the door ; and the husband, 
although groaning with his broken leg and arm, rous- 
ing every exertion, seized a billet of wood, and with 
xepeated blows despatched the two half-smothered 
Indians. In the mean time, the mother had repelled 
a fresh assault upon the door, and severely wounded 
one of the Indians, who attempted simultaneously to 
enter there, while the others descended the chimney. 



GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 89 

"Such was the character of these savages, near 
whom some of our people Uved, and with whom our 
army had to contend. 

''It is related of Harrison, that at the time he en- 
tered the camp he was young, slender, and appa- 
rently of a feeble constitution, and that his compan- 
ions in arms, in pity for him, advised him to resign 
Ms commission and go home. But they did not know 
the spirit of that youthful warrior. So far from ac- 
cepting their advice, he sought and soon found an 
opportunity to evince his energy and capacity. A 
train of packhorses were to be escorted to Fort Ham- 
ilton, on the Miami, a distance of twenty or thirty 
miles from Fort Washington. The command of 
this escort was given to Harrison, young as he was. 
The country was filled with hostile savages; and 
lience the undertaking was considered eminently 
perilous, requiring great caution and constant watch- 
fulness. The service, however, was so successfully 
performed, that General St. Clair, who was still in 
command, expressed his especial approbation of the 
young ensign, and the manner in which he had dis- 
charged his commission. 

"The condition of the frontier inhabitants con- 
tinuing painful and alarming. General St. Clair re- 
tired from the command of the army, and was suc- 
ceeded by General Anthony Wayne. During the 
revolutionary war this officer had greatly distin- 



40 GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 

guished himself. He was so impetuous as to have 
acquired the title of Afad Anthony; yet few had 
more discretion and sagacity. The Indians were 
well acquainted with his reputation, and, it is said, 
a knowledge of his appointment had a sensible effect 
on their sports. They gave him the title of Black 
Snake, from the superior cunning they ascribed to 
him, and even allowed him to be a match for their 
most distinguished warrior, Blue Jacket, or the 
Turtle himself. 

''It was some time after his appointment before 
General Wayne was prepared to enter upon any~ 
decisive measures. In April, 1793, he collected his 
forces at Fort Washington, where Harrison, who 
had been raised to a lieute?ta7icy, joined him. The 
spirit, enterprise, and energy of the latter soon at- 
tracted the notice of General Wayne, who appointed 
him one of the aids-de-camp, in which honorable but 
laborious station he continued during the remainder 
of the war. 

"On the opening of the campaign of 1794, Gen- 
eral Wayne prosecuted his measures with great 
rigor. He was determined that something decisive 
should be done ; but before he proceeded to ex- 
tremities, he resolved to try the effect of one more 
proposal of peace. He had in his army a man by 
the name of Hatch, who had long been a captive 
with some of the tribes, and him he selected for the 
hazardous enterprise. 



GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 41 

^'But Hatch did not like the scheme. He knew 
the Indian temper. He was satisfied that they had 
determined on war, and that even a messenger of 
peace would be in danger of faUing a sacrifice to 
their vengeance. General Wayne, however, hoping 
to bring about a peace, persuaded Hatch to go ; to 
which, at length, he consented, upon condition that 
eight Indians, whom they had taken prisoners, 
should be held as hostages, and that one Indian and 
a squaw should accompany him. 

''With these Hatch left the camp at four o'clock in 
the afternoon, and, by travelling all night, reached 
the tents of the hostile chief at daybreak the next 
morning undiscovered. He immediately displayed 
his flag, and proclaimed himself 'a messenger.' But. 
he was instantly assailed on all sides with a hideous 
yell, and a call to 'kill the rminerl kill the spyP 

''Upon this, he accosted them in their own lan- 
guage. He made known his object, at the same 
time showing them General Wayne's letter, in which 
he assured the chiefs that if they did not send the 
bearer back to him by the sixteenth of the month, 
he would at sunset of that day cause every Indian 
prisoner in his possession to be put to death. 

"Hatch was closely confined, and a council called 
by the chiefs. On the fifteenth he was liberated, 
and furnished with an answer to General Wayne, 
stating-, 'that if he waited where he was ten days. 



42 GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 

and then sent Hatch for them, they would treat with 
him ; but that if he advanced, they would give him 
battle.' The general's impatience had prevented 
his waiting the return of the messenger. On the 
sixteenth Hatch came up with the army on its 
march, and delivered the answer, to which he add- 
•ed, that 'from the manner in which the Indians 
were dressed and painted, and 'the constant arrival 
of parties, it was his opinion they had determined 
on war, and only wanted time to muster their 
Mhole force.' 

"This intelligence roused the spirit of the bold 
and daring General Wayne, and he pressed his march 
down the Miami. On the 18th he reached the Ra- 
pids. On the 19th he halted within a few miles of 
the enemy. Early the next morning he resumed 
his march, and about ten o'clock his spies, who were 
a mile in advance, were fired upon. The army was 
immediately halted, and separated into two divisions. 
The battle soon ensued, and a hard fought battle it 
was. The Indians felt that upon the issue their fate 
depended. They knew General Wayne's spirit and 
impetuosity, and they fought accordingly. It was 
a most sanguinary conflict. The cavalry did great 
execution with the sabre, cutting the Indians down, 
until, panic-struck, they fled in confusion. 

''The victory was complete for the Long Knives, as 
the Indians called the Americans, on account of their 



GRANDFATHER AND (IRANDSON. 43 

use of the broadsword. General Wayne lost in kill- 
ed and wounded one hundred and thirty-three. The 
loss of the Indians was supposed to be much greater. 
''In his official account of the engagement, Gen- 
eral Wayne mentions with honor his 'faithful and 
gallant aid-de-camp, Lieutenant Harrison, as having 
rendered the most essential service by communica- 
ting orders in every direction, and by his conduct 
and bravery exciting the troops to press for victory.' 
This was greatly to the honor of young Harrison, " 
and must have been highly gratifying to a youth of 
his spirit and ambition. 

'Tt is related that on the evening before this bat- 
tle, the Indians knowing that Wayne and his army 
w^ere in the neighborhood, it was proposed in coun- 
cil to go forth and attack them that very night. 
After much deliberation, it was decided to wait till 
the following day. The chief called Little Turtle 
advised to make no attack at all. But Blue Jacket 
insisted that they should fight. Little Turtle had a 
better knowledge of Wayne than the other chiefs. 
He feared the man, and advised to peace. 'We 
have beaten the enemy,' said he at the council, 
*twice, under separate commanders. We can not 
expect the same good fortune always to attend us. 
The Americans are now led by a chief who never 
sleeps. The night and day are alike to him; and 
during all the time that he has been marching upon 



44 GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON, 

our villages, notwithstanding the watchfulness of our 
men, we have never been able to suprise him. Think 
well of it. There is something whispers me it would 
be prudent to listen to his offers of peace.' 

"On this he was repproached by one of the chiefs 
with cowardice, and that ended the conference. 
Stung to the quick by a reproach which he was con- 
scious he never merited, he would have laid the re- 
viler dead at his feet ; but his was not the bravery 
of the assassin. He took his post in the action, de- 
termined to do his duty; and the event proved that 
he had formed no very erroneous estimate of the 
character of General Wayne. 

"The spirit of the Indians was broken by the 
above decisive victory, and by the severe losses which 
they suffered in consequence. Not long after, they 
offered to enter into negotiations for peace; and 
Waynes war, as it was called, ended on the 3d of 
August, 1795, at which time a treaty was made v/ith 
them at Greenville, which was faithfully observed 
till the battle of Tippecanoe, sixteen years after. 
About this battle I shall have occasion to tell you 
hereafter. 

"In consequence of Harrison's services during the 
campaign, and especially his gallant conduct in the 
final battle, he was promoted to be a caplaiu, and, 
what was more honorable to him as a military man, 
he was placed by (ieneral Wayne in command of 



GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 45 

the important post, Fort Washi?igton. Wayne had 
here a full trial of his courage and capacity ; and 
though it would have been pleasant to have had him 
about his person, he felt it due to Harrison, as a re- 
ward of his fidelity, and important to the interests 
of the country, to give him this command. Well 
did he merit the reward ; and any duty which grew 
out of his new station, he fulfilled with great pru- 
dence and ability. 

''Being thus in a measure relieved from the perils 
and uncertainties of field, or rather forest, services, 
Harrison made an offer of his hand, which was ac- 
cepted, to a daughter of John Cleves Symmes, the 
founder of the Miami settlements, and of the city 
of Ohio. 

"And now," said Captain Earle, ''that we have 
placed pur good friend in a safe and honorable sta- 
tion, and seen him comfortably married, we will take 
leave of him for the night, hoping to renew our ac- 
quaintance with him and his fortunes to-morrow 
evening. 




Embassy from the Indians before the Battle of Tippecanoe. 

CHAPTER V. 

Captain Earlc tdls about the Battle of Tippecanoe. 

"My story, I fear, will become a tedious one 
before it is finished," said Captain Earle, as the 
family assembled the next evening. ' 'It will be best,, 
therefore, I think, to pass over the events of some 
years, and come to the battle of Tippecanoe. What 
say you, master Jose — you would like to hear about 
that battle ?" 

"Why," said Jose, "I love to hear any thing about 

46 



GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 47 

SO brave a man as General Harrison ; but I should 
like dearly to hear about that battle." 

"I hope you won't omit any thing," said Thomas. 

"I hope so, too," said William. "Have you seen 
any signs of weariness, father?" 

"None — none," rephed Captain Earle; "my au- 
dience is very attentive, and it is quite agreeable 
to me to prolong the story, especially as I have most 
of the talk to myself. But it is not necessary to be 
very minute on this portion of our hero's history, 
though he rendered very important services to the 
country, especially to that part called the Northwest- 
ern Territory. 

"I will briefly state, then," continued Captain 
Earle, "that on the death of General Wayne, in 1797, 
Captain Harrison resigned his commission in the ar- 
my, and was appointed secretary of the Northwest- 
ern Territory, in which station he acquitted himself 
so much to the satisfaction of the people, that as- 
soon as they were entitled to a delegate in congress,, 
they elected him to represent them. 

"In 1800 a bill was passed in congress for divi- 
ding the Northwestern Territory. By this division^ 
what is now the state of Ohio was made a territory 
by itself, and the remainder of the Northwestern 
Territory received the name of Indiana. At the 
close of the session, Harrison was appointed gov- 
enor of Indiana Territory. 



48 GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 

"In this capacity his labors were very arduous, 
and very responsible. He presided over a vast ter- 
ritory." 

''Father," interrupted Andrew, "you say this was 
a vast territory ; did it include more than the present 
state of Indiana ?" 

"It was a much larger tract, including not only 
Indiana, but also what now constitutes the states of 
Illinois, Michigan, and the territory of Wisconsin." 

Captain Earle continued. "Numerous tribes of 
Indians inhabited it, and it was oftentimes difficult to 
manage them ; but Governor Harrison had had great 
experience. He was well acquainted with the Indian 
character. He had seen them, been with them, 
had always treated them kindly, and had gained their 
confidence and good-will. They loved and respect- 
ed him as a father. He often entered into negotia- 
tions with them, concluded thirteen important trea- 
ties with the different tribes, and obtained for the 
United States not less than sixty millions of acres of 
their lands; fifty-one millions of which were obtain- 
'cd at one time. The largest tract ever ced^d to our 
government in a single treaty. 

"But I will dwell no longer on these details," said 
Captain Earle, "but hasten to a more important and 
interesting event, the Battle of Tippecanoe. ^ 

"This battle was fought on the 7th of November, 
1811." 



GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 49 

"Will you please first tell me, father, where Tip- 
pecanoe is situated?" asked Thomas. f 

"Tippecanoe is the Indian name of a river in In- \ 
diana. It is about one hundred and seventy-six 
miles long, and joins the river Wabash four hundred 
and twenty miles from its mouth." 

*T thought," said Thomas, "it was the name of a 
town." 

"Not of a town," said Captain Earle, "but of an 
Indian encampment, or the residence of a celebra- 
ted Indian Prophet, who, with his equally celebra- 
ted brother Tecumseh, was the instigator of the war. 
Before the details of this battle, you will like to hear 
something of these distinguished chiefs, and of their 
movements which led to it. 

' Tecumseh and Elsk-wa-ta-wa, or, as some wri- 
ters spell his nanie, Ol-li-wa-chi-ca, were twin bro- 
thers. It is even said that there was a trio of bro- 
thers at the same birth, and that the name of the third 

was KUM-SHA-KA. 

"Tecumseh signifies ^The crouching Panther.^ 
According to Mr. Schoolcraft, Elsk-iva-ta-wa means 
^ A fire that is moved from place to place. ' But others 
say, it means ' The open- door, ' or ' The loud voice, ' or 
'Prophet: 

} Little is known of the early years of these bro- 
thers. ' Their father fell in battle while they were 
yet mere boys. Tecumseh, it appears, gave striking 



50 GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 

evidence in his boyhood of the singular spirit which 
characterized him through hfe. He was a savage, 
however, of more principle than most others. He 
seemed to have a great regard for truth, and never 
indulged in the excessive use of food or liquor. He 
early distinguished himself as a warrior, and the love 
of glory was his ruling passion. i 

*'His brother, the Prophet, was quite a different 
character, notorious for his cunning, and love of 
fraud and deception. 

''About the year 1804, £lsk-wa-^a-wa smnounced 
himself as a prophet, and began to preach. By 
some it is supposed that he and Tecumseh, about this 
time, received the project of uniting all the western 
Indians against the United States, and that this plan 
was confirmed afterwards by the prospect of a war 
between this country and England. 

"If such a project ever existed, the Prophet was 
the man to carry it forward. He had great art, and 
his preaching addressed itself powerfully to the In- 
dians. He exhorted the tribes to fight no more with 
one another — they were brethren. He exhorted 
them to abandon ardent spirits, to v/ear skins in- 
stead of blankets, in short, to avoid imitating the 
whites, and to return to the more orginal manners 
and customs of their ancestors. 

''For a time, the Prophet had little success; but, 
the Indians being very superstitious, and afraid of 



GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 51 

provoking his course, they came by degrees to ac- 
knowledge his pretensions. His power became 
great, and was greatly increased by his claim, that 
the Great Spirit had endowed him with the ability 
of seeing into the hearts of every one, and conse- 
quently he could tell who were friends, and who 
were foes. Under this pretension, several chiefs 
whom he suspected were accused, and suffered death 
by his order. 

' 'I will give you an account of the death of a 
celebrated Wyandot chief, known by the English 
name of Leather Lips. He was known to be friend- 
ly to the American cause, in opposition to the Eng- 
lish. He was sixty-three years of age, and a most 
exemplary chief. Being suspected, the Prophet 
despatched an influential chief vv'ith four other In- 
dians to kill him. He was found at home, and noti- 
fied of the sentence which had been passed upon him. 
He entreated, reasoned, and promised, but all in vain. 
The messengers set about digging his grave by the 
side of his wigwam. He now dressed himself in his 
finest war-clothes, and having refreshed himself with 
a hasty meal, knelt down on the brink of the grave. 
His executioner knelt with him, and offered up a 
prayer to the Great Spirit in his behalf. A young 
Indian then approached him and struck him twice 
with a tomahawk ; but, finding that he still breathed, 
^ third blow was given, which terminated his life. 



52 GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 

The office of burial was soon performed. 

''Such was the power of this Prophet over the 
hves of others; and it may be added as further proof 
of his astonishing influence, that one of the execu- 
tioners of the Wyandot chief was his brother. 

"During the year 1807, reports came to the ears 
of General Harrison respecting the movements of 
the Indians, and especially those of the Prophet. 
Upon this he sent a 'Speech' to the Shawanese 
chiefs, couched in severe terms. Most of the chiefs 
being absent, the Prophet sent the following reply to 
Harrison : 

"Father! 

' T am very sorry that you listen to the advice of bad 
birds. You have impeached me with having corresponded 
\\\\\\ the British, and with calling and sending for the Indi- 
ans from the most distant parts ot the country, to listen to a 
fool that speaks not the words of the Great Spirit, but the 
words of the devil. Father ! these impeachments I deny, 
and say they are not true. I never had a word with the 
British, and I never sent for any Indians. They came here 
themselves, to listen and hear the words of the Great Spirit. 

' F'ather! I wish you would not listen any more to the 
voice of bad birds ; and you may rest assured that it is the 
least of our idea to make disturbance, and we will rather try 
to stop such proceedings than encourage them.' 

"This was as false as it was artful. In May or 
June, 1808, the Prophet took up his residence at 
Tippecanoe. Here, for two years, he continued se- 



GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 53 

cretly to foment jealousies and disturbances. At 
length, in the latter part of April, 1816, a trader, 
who had been for some time at the residence of the 
imposter, informed Governor Harrison that the 
Prophet had enlisted three hundred and fifty to 
four hundred men. About the middle of May, ru- 
mor magnified this force to six or eight hundred 
warriors, and the combination was said to have ex- 
tended to several distant tribes. 

''At length the intentions of the Prophet were 
fully ascertained, and the governor made prepar- 
tion to meet the rising storm. 

"In the mean time, Tecumseh and the Prophet 
continued to urge on the Indians in their hostile feel- 
ings. They encouraged them to steal horses, plun- 
der houses, and murder females. The whole frontier 
became a scene of agitation and alarm. 

"Orders, at length, came from the government to 
Governor Harrison to move towards Tippecanoe 
with an armed force — but 'not to fight unless neces- 
sity required.' 

"On the 28th of October the troops were put in 
motion from Fort Harrison, on the Wabash, about 
sixty miles from Vincennes, the capital of Indiana. 
They consisted of three hundred and fifty United 
States soldiers, and five hundred and fifty volun- 
teer militia, including a squadron of dragoons, and 
three companies of mounted riflemen. 



54 GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 

*'0n the 5th of November they encamped within 
nine or ten miles of the Prophet's town. On the 
morning following the march continued, and at the 
distance of three or four miles, Indians began occa- 
sionally to be seen. 

''When within three miles of the town, an officer 
was sent forward with a flag; but, seeing a numer- 
ous party attempting to cut him off from the army, 
he returned. As the army approached still nearer, 
a counsellor of the Prophet, with two other Indians, 
came forth and demanded the reason of this hostile 
show. They stated that the Prophet wished for 
peace, and had sent a message to that effect by 
several chiefs, who had missed of meeting the gov- 
ernor. 

"Upon this inteUigence, whether true or false, 
the governor had no means of ascertaining, he con- 
sented to suspend hostilities, and a council was agreed 
upon for the following day. 

"Governor Harrison, however, was on his guard. 
He well knew the treachery of the Indian character, 
and least of all had he any confidence in the Pro- 
phet. Although unwilling to believe that a night 
attack would be hazarded, he ordered every prepa- 
ration to be made. The troops rested in their 
clothes, with their muskets loaded by their sides, 
and their bayonets fixed, The officers had their 
swords and sabres within reach, The governor'^ 

hor^e was harn^^s^d^, and, r^ady to t>§ mpunted. 



GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 55 

''The night passed away without disturbance. At 
four in the morning, the governor and his aids had 
risen, and were engaged in conversation before the 
fire. The moon was shedding a dim Hght through 
the clouds which were floating over her face. Just 
as the signal was about being given to the troops to 
rouse from their slumbers, the sound of guns was 
heard at a short distance, and in a moment all was 
motion in the camp. 

''The Indians had crept close to the sentinels, with 
an intentions to leap upon and dispatch them. For- 
tunately, one of the sentinels discovered an Indian 
creeping through the grass, and, levelling, killed him 
on the spot. 

"This circumstance caused the Indians to spring 
forward, and round the soldiers, who in a few sec- 
onds were ready for the charge. The yell was loud 
and terrific. The onset was desperate. 

"Immediately, the night-fires of the Americans 
were extinguished, because they showed where the 
Americans were. The governor was on his horse, 
and passed rapidly along the line. He exorted the 
soldiers, and bid them fight for their wives and their 
children. 

"The troops, animated by his presence, met the 
charge with corresponding valor and enthusiasm; 
and soon after daylight the enemy was repulsed, 
and such as did not fall, took hasty shelter in the 
recesses of a neighboring swamp. 



56 GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 



li^ 



'The American force employed amounted to 
about eight hundred men. Sixty-one were killed, 
and about double that number were wounded. The 
governor narrowly escaped, having the hair of his 
head cut by a rifle ball, which passed through the 
rim of his hat. The number of Indians was esti- 
mated at eight hundred or one thousand. They left 
thirty-eight warriors dead upon the field, besides 
those whom they buried in the town, who were car- 
ried thither wounded, during the battle. 

"Tecumseh was absent at the time of the battle, 
engaged in rousing the Indians at the south. The 
Prophet, it is said, took no part in the engagement, 
but having taken a station on a neighboring eminence, 
employed himself in singing a war song. 

"Thus ended the battle of Tippecanoe, in which 
Governor Harrison displayed the greatest energy, 
prudence, and sagacity. The legislature of Indiana 
approved his conduct in the highest terms. The 
assembly of Kentucky resolved, 'that for his cool, 
deliberate, skilful, and gallant conduct in the battle 
of Tippecanoe, he deserved the thanks of the nation.' 
President Madison, in a message to congress, said, 
'Congress will see with satisfaction the dauntless spirit 
and fortitude victoriously displayed by every descrip- 
tion of troops engaged, as well as the collected firm- 
ness which distinguished their commander, on an 
occasion requiring the utmost exertion of valor and 
|iiscipline/ 



GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 57 

"I will only add," observed Captain Earle, ''that 
the day following was spent in taking care of the 
wounded, burying the dead, and fortifying the camp. 
The next day the dragoons were ordered to recon- 
noitre the town. It was found entirely deserted. 
Whatever was considered useful to the army was 
removed, after which the torch was applied to the 
tents, and the whole reduced to ashes. 

"Thus ended the celebrated battle of Tippecanoe, 
from which Governor Harrison acquired the title of 
'The Hero of Tippecanoe.' 

"On the 7th the American troops struck their 
tents, and set forth on their return. The number 
of wounded was so great, that it was found neces- 
sary to employ every wagon to transport them. 
Consequently the baggage of officers and men was 
obliged to be destroyed. General Harrison set the 
example by ordering his own camp furniture to be 
burned. This done, the army proceeded on their 
march, and at length reached Vincennes, without 
further molestation." 




Storm scene in the woods. 



CHAPTER VI. 

A short chapter in which Captain Earle relates some an- 
ecdotes about the ^^old Hero^ 

"I MUST pass over a good many particulars," said 
Captain Earle, as he resumed his narrative the next 
evening, ' 'which would be interesting, had I time to 
relate them. But these you can read at another 
time, in some biography of the 'old Hero.' My 
object is to narrate the most important incidents in 
his life, and to pass rapidly on." 

58 



GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 59 

Here turning to William, Captain Earle inquired, 
"Do you recollect when the last war with England 
was declared?" 

"I believe in 1812," replied William, "but I do 
not recollect the month, nor the day." 

"On the 8th of June of that year," said Captain 
Earle. "In this war, General Harrison was destin- 
ed to act a conspicuous part. No man was of more 
service to his country. No general had a higher 
reputation for bravery, skill, and perseverance. He 
was the idol of the northwestern army. The soldiers 
had the most implicit confidence in him. They knew 
that if they were sick, he would see them taken care 
of; if wounded they would not be left to suffer. If 
there were only a crust of bread, their general would 
share it with them. Where he led, they were ready 
to follow, — in rain, as well as in sunshine — through 
forests and swamps, as well as over the smooth and 
verdant prairie. His discipline was very strict, yet 
he always so contrived matters as to secure the good- 
will and kind feelings of his soldiers. During all his 
command, it is said, he never suffered a militia sol- 
dier to receive a degrading punishment. Flogging 
the negligent was unknown, for none were negli- 
gent; and no shooting of deserters, for none de- 
serted. 

"The happy manner in which he sometimes man- 
aged may be illustrated by an occurrence which 



60 GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 

took place at Fort Defiance, a post on the Maumee 
not far from Lake Erie, soon after he took command 
of the northwestern army. 

*'It was late at night when he reached the fort. 
Soon after he had retired to rest, he was awakened 
by Colonel Allen and Major Hardin, who informed 
him that Allen's regiment of Kentucky militia were 
in open mutiny, and resolved on going home. The 
reason assigned was, that they were exhausted by 
hardship, and disappointed in their expectation of 
an immediate engagement. 

"General Harrison listened to the officers' state- 
ment, and when they had concluded, he directed 
them to leave the management of the case to him. 
That night he issued no orders, and took no further 
notice of the subject, except to direct an alarm to 
be beat at four o'clock in the morning. 

*'At four, therefore, what was the surprise of the 
army, as they roused from their slumbers, to hear 
the drums sounding an alarm. Instantly every sol- 
dier was equipped and ready for battle. The troops 
v/ere ordered to form a hollow square. 

*^This done, General Harrison, mounted on his 
charger, rode up, and entered the square. The 
troops were surprised to see him. He had arrived 
in camp late the night before, and they were igno- 
rant of the fact. 

''They turned their eye upon him. Immediately 



feilANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 6l 

he addressed them in his usual courteous manner. 



rendered solemn, however, by the deep grief which 
the mutiny had occasioned. 

"He expressed his regret that dissatisfaction and 
discontent had appeared, and especially among those 
whom he had been accustomed to regard as devoted 
and self-denying patriots. The war and its hard- 
ships were before them. The quiets and comforts 
of home were not to be found in the fields and for- 
ests, in the storms and contests, through which they 
must wander, and which they must experience. If, 
then, any were disheartened, they had liberty to re- 
tire. Turning to the regiment in which the spirit 
of mutiny had appeared : ^Brave Kentuckians !' 
said he, 'is it you who are faint-heated ? You, in 
whose veins flows blood drawn from sires who 
never cowered in the field of battle ? How will 
those sires receive you ? Will you fill your wives 
and daughters with shame ?' 

"In some such terms did the gallant and warm- 
hearted hero address them. The appeal was irre- 
sistable. At this moment, Colonel Scott, the senior 
Kentucky colonel advanced and addressed his troops. 
'Come,' said he, 'fellow-soldiers, give the "Hero 
of Tippecanoe" three cheers in token of your satis- 
faction, your patriotism, and determination to abide 
by his standard.' The voices of the soldiers in an 
instant broke forth into loud and long acclamations ; 



62 GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 

and from that moment no murmur was heard in the 
camp of Harrison, nor a wish to return home ex- 
pressed. 

''The hardships of the soldiers were, however, 
by no means imaginary. The country was new. 
Storms were frequent. On the cold and damp 
ground the soldiers were often obliged to encamp 
by night, with scanty provisions, and those, too, of 
an inferior quality. 

*'The expedients of General Harrison to keep up 
the courage and good-humor of his troops, were 
often most happy. One instance must suffice. Hear- 
ing that Fort Defiance was threatened with an at- 
tack from the British and Indians combined, he 
hastened to relieve it. On a certain night, the 
troops were halted at a late hour. The rain was 
falling in torrents. Not a tent could be pitched, the 
baggage not having arrived. For the same reason, 
no food could be procured; and only here and 
there a few dry sticks could be gathered with which 
to kindle a fire. Cold, wet, and hungry, the troops 
became uneasy and peevish. Harrison marked the 
rising storm, and, by a fortunate thought, he at once 
allayed it, and even diffused life and hilarity through 
the camp. Wrapped in his cloak, he was sitting by 
a dim fire, receiving the rain as it poured upon him, 
when suddenly turning to one of his officers. 
'Come,' said he, 'give us an Irish song.' 



GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. f>3 

''The officer, taking the hint, struck up: 

'Now's the time for mirth and glee, 
Sing, and laugh, and dance with me.' 

^'I do not know that the troops attempted to 
dance, according to this invitation," said Captain 
Earle, ''for had they, it must have been in rain and 
mire ; but good-humor filled every heart, and smiles 
brightened up every face. In after months, when 
similar troubles involved the troops, and any feel- 
ings of despondency were settling upon their spir- 
its, it was quite sufficient to dispel such clouds to 

sing— 

«Now's the time for mirth and glee, 
Sing, and laugh, and dance with me.'" 




Seige of Fort Meigs. 

CHAPTER VII. 

Captain Earle tells about the siege of Fort Meigs, and the 
battle of the Thames. — Death of Tecvmseh — Anecdotes. 

"I HAVE this evening," said Captain Earle, "to 
tell you of another bold achievement of our favorite 
general. 

"On the south side of the Maumee, a river which 
flows into the west end of Lake Erie, at a place 
called the Rapids., General Harrison erected a rude 
fort, which, in honor of Governor Meigs, of Ohio, 
was called Camp \Meigs, or Fort Meigs. It was, 
however, strongly fortified. 

64 



GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 65 

*'The erection of this fortification was by no 
means agreeable to the British, and an early plan 
was laid to capture and destroy it. On the 26th 
of April, 1813, a large party of British and In- 
dians combined, made their appearance on the op- 
posite side of the river. An attack now being ex- 
pected, every effort was made to strengthen the 
place. Animated by the enthusiasm of their gen- 
eral, the soldiers worked with a zeal and persever- 
ance perhaps never surpassed. 

^'On the evening of the 28th, the Indians were 
conveyed over the river in boats, and surrounded the 
fort in every direction. 

<'0n the 29th, the siege began in good earnest, 
and all intercourse with other posts was cut off. 
During the preceding night the British had thrown 
up a mound, on which to plant their guns, and be- 
hind which they could secure themselves from the 
fire of the Americans. 

< 'April 30th. Several of the Americans were this 
day wounded, and General Harrison himself, being 
continually exposed, had several narrow escapes. 
On the following day the enemy fired two hundred 
and fifty-six times from their gun batteries. The 
Americans fired less rapidly, but with greater effect. 
A bullet struck the seat on which General Harrison 
was sitting, and at the same time a volunteer was 
wounded, as he stood directly opposite to him. 



66 GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 

'^In this manner several days passed, during 
which both parties were engaged in firing bombs 
and balls, not unfrequently causing the destruction 
of soldiers on both sides. 

*'It was now doubtful what would be the issue. 
The pride of the British, as well as their interest, 
demanded the destruction of this fort. They fought, 
therefore, with unwonted courage and perseverance. 

*Tn the mean while. General Harrison and his 
soldiers displayed the utmost coolness and determi- 
nation. They were resolved to surrender only when 
they could fight no longer — when ammunition failed, 
or food and water could no longer be obtained. 

*'At this critical juncture intelligence was received 
that General Clay, with twelve hundred men, was 
hastening to their relief He was already but a few 
miles up the river, and rapidly approaching with his 
troops in boats. An officer was immediately de- 
spatched, directing him to land one-half of his force 
on the opposite side of the river, for the purpose of 
forcing the enemy's batteries and spiking his can- 
non. 

"The gallant Colonel Dudley, who was despatched 
for this purpose, executed the order; but, unfortu- 
nately, his troops, elated with success, pursued the 
retreating enemy until, suddenly, a party of Indians 
under command of the celebrated Tecumseh, who 
were in ambush, rose upon them. The slaughter 



GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 67 

was terrible. The killed on the battle ground were 
horribly mutilated by the savage foe. The brave 
Colonel Dudley was' among the number, and more 
than five hundred of the detachment were taken 
prisoners. 

*'The other part of General Clay's troops were 
more fortunate. They landed a short distance above 
the fort, and might have easily reached It ; but, lured 
by a party of Indians, whom they wished to destroy, 
they proceeded into the woods, and had not General 
Harrison despatched a company of cavalry to cover 
their retreat, they also would have been cut off. 

* 'While these movements were in progress, sev- 
eral brilliant and successful charges were made 
from the fort. The Americans seemed animated by 
the success which must crown this enterprise, if 
they could hold out a short time longer. 

"At length the British gave up the contest. Al- 
though they had made so great a number of prison- 
ers, by the unfortunate management of Colonel 
Dudley, yet this did not aid them in relation to the 
fort. Harrison would have maintained his post, had 
no assistance been rendered. 

''The 8th of May brought an end to the toils of 
the Americans in the fort of Camp Meigs. An ex- 
change of prisoners took place, and on the m.orning 
of the 9th, the enemy commenced their retreat. 
Thus did Harrison sustain, in effect, a siege of twelve 



68 GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON^ 

days, during which the enemy had fired eighteen 
hundred shells and cannon balls, besides keeping up 
an almost continued discharge of small-arms The 
loss of each party was about equal. 

"New achievements during the war were more 
remarkable than this. The British and Indians 
were more than double — yes, probably, four times 
as many as were in the mud fort of Harrison. Not 
another British officer was more fierce and deter- 
mined than Proctor, who commanded the siege. 
And here, also, was Tecumseh, the bold and sa- 
gacious Tecumseh, and several hundred Indians, 
maddened and mortified by their defeat at Tippe- 
canoe. 

"It was surprising that Harrison's courage and 
that of his soldiers should have so kept up, so risen 
with every succeeding day's renewed and varied 
attack. 

"Most wonderful," continued Captain Earle, "is 
it, and most ungrateful, that there should be found 
an enemy who could accuse General Harrison of 
cowardice. But such a charge has been made in 
relation to his conduct at Fort Meigs. But it has 
been met as successfully as he then met the British, 
and such imputations and aspersions are on the re- 
treat as rapidly as the enemy retreated on the 
morning of the 9th of May, 1818. 

"I will here read you a speech of an old soldier, 



GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 



6§ 



Mr. Pollock, who, hearing a young man in the Ohio 
legislature accusing General Harrison of cowardice, 
rose, and shaking his hoary locks, thus rebuked the 
slanders of the youth : 

'''Mr. Speaker: I have listened to the debate, 
thus far, with much patience. I have heard abuse 
heaped upon General Harrison by men who are 
comparatively young; and although I am unaccus- 
tomed to speech making, I hope the house will bear 
with me for a few moments, for I shall not trouble 
it long. I shall not deal in generalities ; we have 
had too many of them already. Sir, I have heard 
members of this house charge General Harrison 
with cowardice, whom he defended and protected 
from the war-knife and tomahawk of the Indians, 
when they were sleeping in their mothers' arms. 

"'Mr. Speaker, I know something of General 
Harrison, and something of his history, and some- 
thing of his deeds. I know individuals who were 
with him in the battles of the Thames, Fort Meigs, 
and Fort Stephenson. I know, sir, that cannon 
balls, chainshot, and bombshells flew thick around 
him in these battles. The gentleman from Cler- 
mont (Mr. Buchanan), said that General Harrison 
was not, during the battle of Fort Meigs, near 
enough to have the scales knocked off him. Well, 
sir, if he was not near enough to have the scales 
knocked off, he was near enough to have the scales 



70 GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 

and dirt knocked on to him by cannon balls. [Who 
saw it? asked some member.] I saw it, sir; I was 
in that battle. I saw a cannon ball strike within 
two feet of General Harrison during that fight. I 
was there. I saw bombshells and chainshot flying 
all around him. Horses were shot down under him. 
I was also at the battle of Fort Stephenson. I saw 
General Harrison there, and he was in the hottest 
and hardest of the fight ; and where balls flew thick- 
est, and where steel blushed the fiercest, there would 
you find General Harrison. I speak what I know, 
and what my eyes have seen. General Harrion is 
not a coward ; and those who call him a coward 
know nothing of him. He was a brave, prudent, 
and fearless general. He took the right course 
during the last war ; he acted a noble part, and his 
country has honored him for it. Ask the soldiers 
who fought by his side ; whose arms were nerved 
by his presence ; whose hearts were cheered by his 
valor ; and who were led to triumph and to victory 
by his courage, and bravery, and skill, if General 
Harrison was a coward ; and they, sir, will tell you 
No! 

"'Sir, I have done. I only wished to give my 
testimony in favor of General Harrison, and to 
state what I have seen, in opposition to those who 
are ignorant of his character, and who now noth- 
ing of his bravery and skill.' 



GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 71 

"The decisive victory thus obtained at Fort 
Meigs," continued Captain Earle ''sent a thrill of 
joy through the land, almost equal to that which in 
the revolution was awakened by the triumph of 
Saratoga. It dispelled the gloom which prevaded 
the nation. It turned the tide of war, and led di- 
rectly to other splendid achievements, which not 
long after, decided the contest on the northeastern 
frontier. 

"Of these other achievements, I have time to no- 
tice but one, and that briefly, the 'Battle of the 

Thames.' 

"The Thames is a river in Upper Canada, flow- 
ing into Lake St. Clair. On the 5th of October, a 
severe battle was fought near this river between the 
Americans under General Harrison, and the British 
and Indians, the former led by General Proctor, 
and the latter by Tecumseh. The Americans were 
speedly and decisively victorious, making six hun- 
dred prisoners and putting the rest of the enemy to 
flight. Here was the last struggle of the renowned 
Tecumseh. Disdaining to fly, while all were flying 
around him but his own nearest followers, he press- 
ed eagerly into the heat of the contest, encouraging 
the savages by his voice, and plying the tomahawk 
with tremendous energy. 

"But he fell — by whose hand it is not certainly 
known. The honor, if it may be called an honor, 



72 GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 

was claimed by Colonel Johnson. But it was no 
ordinary man that there fell — savage that he was. 
Like Philip, of Mount Hope, at an earlier date, he 
was terrible in battle. His ruling maxim in war was 
to take no prisoners. He neither gave any quarters, 
nor accepted any. A writer remarks of him, 'that 
his carriage was erect and lofty. His eloquence was 
nervous and concise. Habitually taciturn, his words 
were few, but always to the purpose.' 

"It is an interesting fact that 'the grave in which 
Tecumseh's remains were deposited by the Indians 
after the return of the American army, is still visible 
near the borders of a willow marsh, on the north 
line of the battle ground, with a large fallen oak 
tree lying beside. The willow and wild rose are 
thick around it, but the mound itself is cleared of 
shrubbery, and is said to owe its good condition to 
the occasional visits of his countrymen. Thus re- 
pose, in solitude and silence, the ashes of the Indian 
Bonaparte.' In truth have they 

•Left him alone in his glory.' " 

"Father," inquired Andrew, "what became of the 
Prophet?" 

"I know not his particular history after the battle 
of Tippecanoe. Some author, I think, relates that he 
died only a few years since. After the above bat- 
tle, he had very little influence, and I believe very 



(jRANDFATttER AND GRANt)SON. 

little agency in the war. Both Tecumseh and the 
Prophet received an annual pension from the British 
government. 

"Let us return a few moments to General Harri- 
son. 

"It was his practice — quite different from that of 
some commanders — to favor himself in nothing, 
but to share with his common soldiers their toils and 
deprivations. This greatly endeared him to them, 
and to this day, wherever a soldier is found, how- 
ever humble, who, followed the fortunes of General 
Harrison, he will be hard to extol him. 

"A pleasant anecdote is related of him while in 
pursuit of General Proctor up the Thames. A sin- 
gle valise contained the whole of his baggage, 
while a blanket thrown over his saddle served him 
for a bed ; or rather the ground was his bed, and the 
blanket his only covering. Yet even this blanket he 
gave away to Colonel Evans, a British officer, who 
was wounded and a prisoner, because he needed it 
more than himself! Such humanity — such self-de- 
nial, is rare. 

"The night following the battle of the Thames, 
thirty-four British officers, prisoners of war, supped 
with him. But the camp, especially after a battle, 
afforded little variety. Indeed, it is said that the 
general was able to give them only some fresh roast- 
ed beef, without bread, and without salt. The sol- 



74 GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 

diers had the same, their fare was always hke that 
of their general. Whatever luxuries he had, they 
had; and whatever hardships, difficulties, and dan- 
gers they encountered, he shared them with his 
troops. When the morning arrived, and their 
slumbers were broken up by the rattling drum, he 
was out and mounted on his horse. When the 
storm beat upon them, he breasted it himself. When 
they were dispirited, his cheerfulness wore away 
the gloom. When they were sick, or were wounded 
in the service of their country, he saw that their 
wants were supphed. 

"Few commanders were ever more beloved, or 
more readily obeyed than General Harrison ; and 
the secret of this affection and corrtrol lay in his 
uniform kindness. One instance of kindness must 
serve as a specimen of hundreds of others which 
might be related. A regiment was on the point of 
leaving Vincennes for the northwestern frontier. 
At the moment of their departure, advancing towards 
them, he said: 'If you ever come to Vincennes, you 
will always find a plate and knife and fork at my 
table ; and I can assure you that you will never find 
the string to the latch of my door pulled in.'' " 

''Father," inquired Jose, ''Avhat is meant by a 
string to a latch ? I never saw a latch with a string to 



it." 



"Formerly," replied Captain Earle, "the people 



GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 75 

had wooden latches, because such latches as we have 
wer€ quiet rare, or they were unable to purchase 
them. A string tied to a wooden latch was passed 
through a hole in the door. This string being pulled, 
raised the latch ; when drawn in, no one on the out- 
side could open the door. In the western country, 
such latches are probably common in the 'log cabins, ' 
and perhaps at that time such a latch was on the 
door of the log cabin in which General Harrison 
lived. 




De Wood Leg Soldiare, etc. 

CHAPTER VIII. 

Captain Earle impends an evening In telling anecdotes about 

General Harrison. 

"I HAD no intention, my children," Captain Earle 
remarked the succeeding evening, as he was taking 
his seat, "I had no intention when I began these 
notices of the 'Hero of Tippecanoe,' of extending 
them to so great a length. But the subject is fruit- 
ful, and the half has not yet been told. 

"But I must not be tedious, and will therefore give 
the remaining history of the general in few words. 

76 



GRANDPWTHER AND GRANDSON. i < 

"In 1814, he resigned his commission in the ar- 
my. This resignation was in consequence of ar- 
rangements made by the secretary of war, by which 
General Harrison was still to retain his commission, 
but not be employed in active service. To this he 
could not consent. He loved the excitement of the 
field. His patriotic spirit could then find grateful 
exercise only in conducting the soldiers whom he had 
trained into the field of action. As another, through 
the prejudice of the secretary, was appointed to do 
this. General Harrison retired from the army. 

"Two years after, he was elected a member of 
congress, subsequently a member of the state senate 
of Ohio, and, in 1824, a senator of the United 
States. In 1828, President Adams appointed him 
minister to the republic of Colombia, in South 
America. In these various situations he proved 
himself most useful to his country, adding to his 
reputation as a statesman honors beyond those which 
he had acquired as a soldier. 

"Returning at length to his country, he retired to 
a farm at North Bend, on the banks of the Ohio, fif- 
teen or twenty miles below Cincinnati. Here, con- 
tented with the honors acquired by years of patri- 
otic devotion to his country, he has lived, employing 
himself in rural occupations, and at the same time 
gathering from the soil his support, which others, if 
not more selfish, yet more careful of their own inte- 
rests, have secured from the emoluments of office." 



78 GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 

"Do you mean, father," inquired William, "to say 
that General Harrison is poor ?" 

"I believe," repHed Captain Earle, "that he is by 
no means rich. It has been stated, that for his ser- 
vices as commander of the expedition to Tippeca- 
noe, he never asked and never received any compen- 
sation. As commander of the northwestern army, 
his expenses so far exceeded his pay, that subse- 
quently he was obliged to sell a fine tract of land to 
meet them." 

"Does General Harrison live in a log cabin ?" ask- 
ed Thomas. 

"So it is reported — a log cabin, which, within a 
few years, has been covered and painted white. 
The house is large, with a noble la\yn, large trees, 
and a fine view of the river. It is said to be plain, 
but extremely neat." 

"You have not told us how General Harrison 
looks," observed Thomas. 

' Tn person he is tall and slender. His eye is dark, 
and remarkable for its expression. No one could 
see him and not be convinced of his intelUgence ; 
no one can read the history of his life, and not be 
satisfied of the benevolence of his heart. In his 
manners he is plain, easy, and unostentatious. In 
disposition he is generous, in temper, mild and for- 
bearing, strong in his attachments, forgiving to- 
ward^ his eiiemies, 



Gl^ANDFATHER AND GRANDSOK. 7^' 

Here, pausing and taking some papers from the 
table, Captain Earle observed, that he had marked 
several interesting anecdotes concerning the general, 
a few of which it will give you pleasure, I presume, 
to hear. Here is one entitled 

"BOYS, DO YOU HEAR THAT?" 

"Twenty-six years ago last autumn," said the gen- 
tleman who related the anecdote, "I was a boy at- 
tending school in a log cabin, with no other windows 
than the light afforded through the space of two 
logs, by the removal of a piece of the third, with 
greasy bits of paper pasted on as substitutes for 
glass. The cabin, dedicated to learning, was situa- 
ted in the outskirts of a now populous town in Penn- 
sylvania. No state in the Union furnished more or 
better soldiers for the defence and protection of the 
northern frontier of Ohio, during the late war, than 
did Pennsylvania. Not a few of her sons were in 
the army surrendered by Hull ; besides, numbers ot 
her brave fellows were massacred and scalped at 
Winchester and Dudley's defeat. Still, the after- 
call of General Harrison for more soldiers was an- 
swered by large numbers of Pennsylvanians, indu- 
ing several from our village. The departure ot 
these brave fellows from their families and friends, 
was then viewed as voluntary sacrifice of life for 
the defence of their country; and the 'farewell, 
God bless ye I' was uttered in a tone and feeling that 



^0 GRAivrDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 

sunk deep in the hearts of the bystanders, and which 
will never be effaced from my memory. 

"In these days, our mails were few and uncer- 
tain ; and it w' as only by the occasional passing of 
a sick or disabled soldier returning home, that w^e 
heard from our army. Time hung heavy, and deep 
gloom overspread our country. The last news was, 
'A battle is soon expected between the American 
army under General Harrison, and the British and 
Indians under the bloodthirsty Proctor and Tecum- 
seh r 

"Days and Aveeks passed by, and yet nothing was 
heard from our army. The citizens eagerly hailed 
all strangers from the West, with the anxious inqui- 
ry of, 'Any news from General Harrison ?' Such 
was the delay, doubt, and uncertainty, that it was 
generally feared, and by many believed, that Harri- 
son and his army had, like those before him, been 
defeated and massacred. 

"While I was sitting, said the Gentleman, "at the 
long low ivindow of our schoolhouse, and our Irish 
schoolmaster was busy in repeating our A B C to 
the smaller urchins, I suddenly heard the sound of a 
horn. I looked forth, and saw descending the hill, 
half a mile distant, the mail boy on a horse at full 
speed. At the foot of the hill, he crossed the bridge, 
and the rai)id clatter of the iron hoof resounded 
throughout our cabin. Rising the hill near us, his 



GkANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 81 

horse at full speed, and reeking with sweat, he again 
sounded his shrill horn, and, when opposite our log 
cabin, he called out : 

"'harrison has whipped the british and 
Indians!' 

"Our Irish tutor, with as true an America7i heart 
as ever beat in a son of Erin, sprang from his seat 
as though he had been shot, his eyes flashing with 
fire, he screamed out : 

'BOYS, DO YOU HEAR THAT ?' 

"He caught his hat, darted out at the door, and 
followed the mail-boy at the top of his speed. The 
scholars were not a second behind him — the larger 
ones taking the lead, and shouting ^ Huzza for Harri- 
son P and the smaller ones running after, halloing 
and screaming with fright ! 

"The people of our village hearing the confusion, 
and seeing the mail-boy and horse at full run, follow- 
ed by the schoolmaster at the top of his speed, and 
his whole school screaming — shouting and scream- 
ing — knew not Vv'hat to make of it. The mechan- 
ic left his shop — the merchant his store — and the 
women stretched their necks out of the windows, 
while consternation and dismay were depicted on 
every countenance. The mail arriving at the office, 
the carrier rose in his stirrups, and exclaimed, at the 
same time whirling his hat in the air; 



§2 grandf'ather and grandson. 

*' 'Huzza for HARRISON ! He has whipped 
THE British and Indians 1' 

'BOYS, do you hear That?' 

"A universal shout of joy involuntarily burst 
forth, bonfires were kindled in the streets, and our 
village was illuminated at night." 

HARRISON AND THE ASSASSIN. 

<'I have related the particulars of the battle of 
Tippecanoe. One incident I have reserved for the 
present time. The evening before the battle, a ne- 
gro was seen to enter the American camp, and cau- 
tiously steal towards the general's marque. His 
conduct was so suspicious that he was arrested, and 
at the time of the action was a prisoner in the camp. 
After the battle a court-martial was ordered, of 
which Colonel Boyd was appointed president. 

"On the trial, it was proved that he had deserted 
from the American camp, and that, instigated by the 
Indians, he had returned v/ith the intention of mur- 
dering the governor while asleep. With this guilt 
upon him, he was sentenced to suffer death within 
an hour. But General Harrison, after he had ap- 
proved the sentence, was reluctant to give the fatal 
order. 

'' Tf he had been out of my sight,' said General 
Harrison, when afterwards relating the circumstance. 



GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 83 

*he would have been executed ; but when he was 
first taken, General Wells and Colonel Owen, who 
were old Indian fighters, as we had no irons to put 
on him, had secured him after the Indian fashion. 
This is done by throwing a person on his back, split- 
ting a log and cutting notches in it to receive the 
ankles; then replacing the several parts, and com- 
pressing them together with forks driven over the 
log into the ground. The arms are extended and 
tied to stakes secured in the same manner. The 
situation of a person thus placed, is as uneasy as can 
possibly be conceived. The poor wretch thus con- 
fined, lay before my fire, his face receiving the rain 
that occasionally fell, and his eyes constantly turned 
upon me, as if imploring mercy. I could not with- 
stand the appeal, and I determined to give him 
another chance for his life. I had all the commis- 
sioned officers assembled, and told them that his fate 
depended on them. Some were for executing him, 
and I believe a majority would have been against 
him, but for the interference of the gallant Snelling. 
*Brave comrades ? said he, 'let us save him. The 
wretch deserves to die, but as our commander, whose 
life was more particularly his object, is willing to 
spare him, let us also forgive him. I hope, at least, 
that every officer of the fourth regiment will be on 
the side of mercy.' Snelling prevailed^ and Ben 
was discharged." 



8-i GRANDFAMHER AND GRANDSON. 

THE OLD SOLDIER. 

"I was dining with General Harrison in the spring 
of 1839," said a gentleman, ''and while in the midst 
of our repast, a loud knock was heard at the door. 
My host rose from the table, excused himself, and 
went to the door to see who it was that was so de- 
sirous of admittance. After a parley of some mo- 
ments with a p ,"son who spoke in a rough tone of 
voice, the general ushered into the room a very old 
man, whose worn-out and tattered garments bespoke 
great distress and poverty. 

" 'Mr. ,' said Gen. Harrison, ' this is one of 

my old soldiers, and I have invited him in to dine 
with us. He was with me in the sortie of Fort 
Meigs and at the Thames. I remember his bravery 
well. There are the men whom we must honor. 
Take that seat, George.' 

"George, for that was the old soldier's name," 
continued our friend, "sat down and soon gave us 
cause to know that a good dinner and he had been 
strangers for many a long day. The old fellow's 
feelmgs became enlivened by the good things he 
had partaken of, and a glass or two of whisky and 
water, and for nearly two hours, did the general and 
he fight their battles over again. Towards evening, 
the general took me aside and asked me to join with 
him in the charity he was about to bestow. I cheer- 
fully consented. The general went to his bedroom, 



GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 85 

and in a few moments returned with a new black 
coat. • 

" 'George,' said the hero, 'this is the only coat I 
have except the threadbare one on my back. Take it, 
and while it protects you from the inclement winds 
of our cold spring, remember, that had your old 
general his way, every old soldier in the country 
should not know what want was the rest of his 
days, ' 

"I added my mite to George's empty purse, and 
gave him 'silver' enough to carry him home into the 
interior of Ohio — for he had been to New Orleans 
on a flat-boat and was now on his return." 

" 'You will take this note,' said the General, 'and 

when you go to Cincinnati, call on Mr. M ; give 

him this, and he will further aid you. I am like 
yourself, George, poor, and have to labor for my liv- 
ing, after long toil and hard work in the service 
of my country, but we poor soldiers enjoy at least 
the proud consciousness of having done our duty.' 

"After some further conversation, George depart- 
ed, thanking his old general from his heart. This 
little circumstance turned the conversation between 
the general and myself upon the hardships of the 
last war, the faithfulness of his troops, and the true 
policy that the government ought to pursue to its 
surviving defenders. This anecdote, however, will 
serve to show you the kind-hearted goodness of the 



86 GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 

old general, and it proves that if he is elected presi- 
dent, he will be the president of the people — acces- 
sible to all." 

Harrison's kindness to an irishman. 

An Irishman by the name of John Hanley emi- 
grated a few years since to Cincinnati, Ohio, with 
his young wife. He had married her contrary to 
the wishes of her father, which was the cause of his 
leaving his country. 

On his arrival in Cincinnati, he opened a small 
store, by means of which he was able to support 
himself and wife. At length intelligence reached 
him that his father in Ireland was dead, and had left 
him a handsome share of his property. Upon this, 
he immediately sold his effects, and with his wife 
embarked for his native country. But on reaching 
the place of his birth, what was his disappointment 
to find that the whole sum left him was only five 
pounds! 

No sooner had he learned what unkindness had 
been practiced by his father, than, raising a small 
sum, he again returned to Cincinnati. His wife be- 
ing an accomplished woman, endeavored to aid her 
husband by giving lessons in music. 

The story of their disappointment reached the 
ears of General Harrison. He felt interested in 
them, as he has ever been interested in the sorrows 



and trials of the unfortunate. Just at that time, 
there was a clerkship in his office vacant. It was 
worth five hundred dollars a year. Many personal 
friends of General Harrison solicited it of him in be- 
half of their sons. But he refused them all, and 
gave the place to Hanley, the poor young Irishman. 

Haniey's gratitude can n^t well be imagined. He 
entered upon his duties, and while health lasted, he 
v>'as contented and happy. But he fell sick, and for the 
last six months of his life he was unable to perform 
the duties of his station. But mark the kindness of 
Harrison. He contrieved to have the duties per- 
formed, and Hanley or his wife was paid to the 
dav of his death. 

Such kindness is as beautiful as it is rare. A 
heart in v^-hich such sympathy dwells, is not likely to 
lose its generous tendencies, whatever honors or 
offices are bestowed ■ upon its possessor. How de- 
sirable to have such a man at the head of the nation, 
rather than one who has little more sensibility to 
the woes of others than marble, and can no more 
sympathize with the sons and daughters of misfor- 
tune than an iceberg ! 

"l)E WOOD LEG SOLDIARE." 

•'Are you personally acquainted with General 

Harrison ?" asked an American of a French traveller. 

"Begare, sare." replied the Frenchman, *'I have 



§§ GkANDFATHER AND GRANDSoM. 

de grand satisfactiong to have the plaisare, sare, to 
have de grand introductiong, sare, to the brave hero 
and citizen. I make you introductiong, sare, to this 
gentilhomme, who will tell de grand story of de 
old shenerall, and de wood leg soldiare. It is ver 
good." 

This appeal was made to a respectable-looking, 
gentleman — a clergyman — who remarked that it 
would give him pleasure to tell the story. 

He related as follows : 

It was in the year 1820, if my memory is correct, 
that I was traveling in Ohio with a view of pur- 
chasing a tract of land for my son, when I fell in 
with a gentleman who was a stranger, and whom I 
found a very intelligent and agreeable companion. 
A thunder storm drove us into a neat log cabin, a 
litttle distance from the road-side, for shelter, where 
we found a house full of children, a sick and very 
interesting-looking woman lying on an humble but 
clean-looking bed, and a young, pretty maiden sit- 
ting near. The husband and father, with a wooden 
leg, and a deep scar across his brow, was bending 
over the bed and pressing the hand of the sick wo- 
man between both of his. His eyes were intently 
fixed on a young infant, apparently a few months 
old. The whole group had been indulging in tears, 
and I saw one stealing from the dazzling eyes of the 
young damsel as she sat listening apparently to some 



GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 89 

tale of woe which her father told. The tears were 
suddenly wiped away as we approached, and were 
given a cordial welcome. 

"You seem to be in distress," said the stranger, 
my companion. 

"I have faced the enemies of my country," said 
the host, as he swung his wooden leg round to close 
the door, "and I have felt all the pangs and priva- 
tions of a military life, but all this was nothing com- 
pared with what I have suffered to-day." 

Stranger. Pardon me if I ask the cause ; for I 
will relieve you if it lies in my power. 

Host. My wife is afflicted with an internal disease, 
which renders it dangerous to move her ; yet, for a 
debt which I cannot immediately raise, the man who 
is agent for another, declares that if I do not pay it 
before to-morrow at twelve o'clock, he will seize what 
little I possess, and turn us all out to the mercy of 
the elements. I can neither raise the sum by that 
time, nor obtain a shelter for my poor wife and chil- 
dren, who must perish to gratify the malice of a man 
whose heart is a stranger to mercy. 

The whole family melted into tears as he conclud- 
ed, and even the soldier himself, who had faced the 
cannon's mouth, could not refrain from weeping. 

Stranger. You have fought the battles of the 
country ? May I be inquisitive in asking — 

Host. Oh ! yes, I fought under the brave Harri- 



90 GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 

son at the Thames and in other battles. I speak of 
him with pride, for I have seen his sword gUttering 
in the thickest of the fight. 

Stranger. Would you know him were you to see 
him ? 

Host (gazing in his face). You resemble him very 
much. Were he to know my sufferings, he would 
instantly assist me. I have seen him do several 
generous deeds. 

Stranger. Where did you lose your leg ? 

Host. It was shattered by a ball at the glorious 
battle of Tippecanoe. 

Stranger. Well, my brave fellow, make your mind 
easy ; a hair of your head shall not be injured. You 
now see your general before you, and as you have 
fought for me and your country, I will now protect 
you and your family at the risk of my life. 

A sudden blaze of joy seemed to run from heart 
to heart ; the soldier clasped General Harrison in 
his arms, while the children pressed his hand with 
affection. 

"We shall be saved from ruin," cried the pale wife. 

The general found the owner of the piece of land 
on which the soldier lived, and never rested until he 
made the poor fellow a right to it. He also dis- 
charged the debt, and a happier family I never be- 
held. 



GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 91 

HARRISON AND THE METHODIST MINISTER. 

General Harrison was sitting one summer evening 
at the door of his "log cabin." It had been an in- 
tensely warm day, and here he was sitting with the 
hope of getting cool after the labors of the day, when 
a man approached and solicited a shelter for the 
night. 

The jaded appearance of the steed, and the soiled 
garments of the rider, proclaimed the fatigue of the 
day, and with his usual courtesy, the old general 
welcomed the stranger. After a plain and substantial 
supper, the guest joined with his host in social con- 
versation; and the latter, laying aside the character 
of the soldier and statesman, willingly listened to the 
pious instructions of the traveler, whom he discovered 
to be a minister of the gospel. 

They retired to rest, the good old soldier thankful 
to a munificent Providence that he was enabled to 
administer to the wants of a fellow creature, and the 
worthy minister of Christ, invoking the blessing of 
heaven upon the head of his kind benefactor. 

Morning came, and the minister prepared to de- 
part. He was in the act of taking leave, when he 
was informed that his horse had died during the 
night. The loss, however severe, considering that 
he had yet two hundred miles to travel, did not dis- 
courage him in the exercise of his duty ; but taking 
his saddle-bags on his arm, he rose to depart, with 



^2 GRANDFATHER AND GRaNDSON. 

thanks for the kindness of his entertainer. The old 
general did not attempt to detain him, though he of- 
fered his condolence upon the loss ; but an observ- 
ing eye could have detected a smile of inward satis- 
faction, which the consciousness of doing good alone 
produces. The guest reached the door, and to his 
astonishment, found one of the general's horses, ac- 
coutred with his own saddle and bridle, in waiting 
for him. He returned and remonstrated, stating 
his inability to pay for it, and that in all probability 
he should never again visit that section of the coun- 
try. But the general was inexorable, and reminded 
the astonished divine that "he who giveth to the 
poor lendeth to the Lord" — sent him on his way, 
his heart overflowing with gratitude, and his prayers 
directed to heaven for the blessings of the venerable 
hero. 




Harrison elected by Captain Earle's family. 

CHAPTER IX. 

The ''Hero of Tippecanoe'' elected president by Captain Earl e 

and his family. 

At the conclusion of the anecdotes the evening 
before, as it was late, the children retired without 
learning whether their father intended to gratify 
them with any further account of the "old hero." 

At breakfast, therefore, the inquiry was made 
with some solicitude. 

"You have been pleased, then, my children, with 

93 



04 GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 

the manner in which we have spent some evenings 
past?" 

^'Very greatfully," said one. "Highly," said an- 
other. ' 'I hope you have not finished, " said Thomas. 

"Let us hear what Jose wishes," said Captain 
Earle. 

"I'm sure I love to hear stories," said Jose; "but 
you haven't told us certainly whether General Harri- 
son is to be the next president." 

"That is more than I know," said Captain Earle, 
"but I think he will, and every day confirms me in 
the opinion. But I design to spend one evening 
more in talking on this subject, and then we will wait 
patiently till the question is settled." 

The family here separated for the day. The sons 
were soon at school, Mrs. Earle engaged in her 
usual domestic avocations, and the captain abroad 
on business in a neighboring town. 

I will not say that the day was a long one to the 
children, but they appeared quite pleased, when, tea 
being finished, and the table occupying its usual place, 
they gathered once more to listen to their father. 

"The remarks which I am about to make to you 
this evening, my children," Captain Earle began, 
"are rather of a grave character; but as they are 
connected with the 'old hero,' and the welfare of 
the country, you will find them, I hope, interest- 
ing. 



GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 95 

"We are now on the eve of a new presidential 
election. In a few months the states will vote for 
electors of president and vice-president. Each state 
chooses as many electors as it sends representatives 
to congress. The electors meet in the several states, 
and give their votes. These votes are sealed up, 
and sent to Washington, where, in the month of 
February, they are opened in the presence of con- 
gress, and the candidate who has the majority of all 
the votes is declared to be president of the United 
States for four years. 

"The candidate who shall be elected next autumn, 
will take his oath of office on the 4th day of March, 
1841. 

"The office of president of the United States is a 
high and honorable office. The salary attached to 
it is greater than that of any other office in the gov- 
ernment; and the influence of the president is great- 
er, perhaps, than that of ony other man. The na- 
tion provides a large and splendid house for him, 
and furnishes it with elegant and costly furniture. 

"The people take a deep interest in the ques- 
tion, 'Who will be president ?' Such an interest 
they ought to feel. The Bible says, 'When the 
righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but 
when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.' 

"Rulers have great influence. The president of 
the United States, from his station and power, can 



96 GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 

accomplish good or evil for the nation. If he be a 
wise, a prudent, and a good man — one who loves the 
happiness and welfare of the people more than his 
private interest — the nation will be happy and pros- 
perous. Business will thrive. Industry will be en- 
couraged. Men will find employment ; they will be 
able to support their families. Children will have 
good clothes and good food. There will be schools, 
and the means of paying teachers. 

''On the other hand, if a selfish and ambitious 
man is made president, he will regard his own inte- 
rests more than those of the people. His ends must 
be served. His ambitious views must be carried 
out. No matter whether the country is prosperous, 
no matter whether business thrives — whether the 
laborer gets good wages, or children are well fed or 
well educated. These are considerations of small 
moment with a selfish and wicked president. His 
object is attained, if he can retain his office — 
get his $25,000 a year — be praised and flattered 
— ride in his splendid coach with fine horses, 
and eat his good dinners on gold or silver plate. 
When such a man rules, the people do mourn. 

"No wonder, then, that the people of the United 
States feel a deep interest in the question, 'Who is to 
be president ?' Every man, woman, and child has 
such an interest, as the manner in which he adminis- 
ters the government may affect generations unborn. 



GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 97 

While, then, no one should use unlawful means to 
prevent the election of any candidate, every one is 
justified, and even bound by duty, to exert his in- 
fluence in all lawful and honorable ways to secure the 
election of the man who will look well to the good 
of the country, and who will take care of the poor 
as well as the rich, and of children as well as of per- 
sons who have attained to manhood. This is my 
creed, and the true creed, I believe, of the real 
patriot. 

''Since the year 1789 we have had eight different 
presidents — George Washington, John Adams, Tho- 
mas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, John 
Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, and Martin Van 
Buren, who is president at this time. Until within 
a few years, we have been a prosperous and happy 
people — no nation more so ; but in 1829, or soon 
after, a great change came over the country. In 
that year, Andrew Jackson entered upon the presi- 
dency. He promised to administer the government 
so that the prosperity of the people should continue ; 
but M^hether he was unable, or self-willed, or from 
some other cause, the prosperity of the country be- 
gan to decline. He entered upon new experiments, 
which failed, and left the money matters of the coun- 
try in great derangement and confusion. 

"Mr. Van Buren has managed as badly, and even 
worse than President Jackson. He said that he 



_> 



98 GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 

would follow his measures, and he has done so. 
General Jackson turned the ship of state out of her 
course, and Mr. Van Buren has kept on. He has 
been admonished of danger — been told by several 
good old pilots that he would run the ship aground 
or drive her on breakers, where she would be ship- 
wrecked. But he has seemed to fear no evil and to 
listen to no counsel. 

"Thus the country suffers. Business is nearly sus- 
pended — confidence is destroyed. Thousands, who 
were rich, have become poor, and the poor are beg- 
ging. If affairs long continue as they are now, I 
hope, my children, that I shall be able to procure 
you bread, but the comforts which you have enjoyed 
must be dimimished. I cannot pay for books — I 
cannot educate you. 

"It is so now, or will soon be so, with thousands 
in all the land. 

"What shall be done? One expedient remains.* 
we must alter the course of the ship. If Mr. Van 
Buren is re-elected, he tells us he will not alter it, 
but will still follow in the 'steps of his illustrious 
predecessor. ' 

"If we would change, then, our course, we must 
change our captain, our commander. General Har- 
rison, the 'Hero of Tippecanoe,' the plain, honest, 
but intelligent, straight-forward, good old-fashioned 
farmer of Ohio, is recommended as the man. He is 



GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 99 

a man — an honest man, 'the noblest work of God' — 
and he is the man who comes recommended from all 
quarters of the land. The spirit of reform is abroad 
in the nation. 'The people are coming.' If I live," 
said Captain Earle, ''till the time of voting, / will 
vote for General William Hemy IIa?'rison.'" 

"I wish I could vote, father," said William. 

"I wish so too," said Captain Earle. "Were it 
right, I would wish to see all my boys at the ballot- 
box." 

"Some doubt, I suppose," said William, "how 
Andrew would vote." 

"I would vote with a good conscience," said An- 
drew, "or not vote at all." 

"It has just occurred to me," said Captain Earle, 
"that there can be no harm in taking the question 
here to-night, 'Who shall be president ?' " 

"Will our vote decide who will be president ?" ask- 
ed Jose. 

"It will decide whom we ivish should be.'' 

"I like the plan well, " said William. "As Wil- 
liam Henry Harrison is a prominent candidate, and 
that is my name, who can tell but that I may be run 
in president this very evening." 

"Well," said Captain Earle, "you may prepare 
your votes." 

"I don't know how." said Jose; "I can not 
write." 



l()(l GRANDtATMEft AND GRANDSON. 

"Well, Jose," said Captain Earle, "there are thou- 
sands who vote for president, who can neither read, 
write, nor spell, nor scarcely think. You must get 
some one to write for you." 

"Well, I'll get mother to write me a vote. Mo- 
ther, will you ?" 

"It is not often," said Mrs. Earle, "that ladies 
write votes; but I will oblige you. Come and whis- 
per the name you wish me to write." 

Jose whispered, and Mrs. Earle laughed out- 
right. 

"Why, ladies don't vote, my son," said his mother. 

"What is that?" inquired Captain Earle. "Sure- 
ly, we must all be pleased to know what pleases mo- 
ther so much." 

"Why, Jose wishes me," said Mrs. Earle, "to 
write the same name for him that I do for myself." 

"Good, my son," said Captain Earle ; "that is a 
capital thought. We must have your mother's vote 

also." 

"Well," said Andrew, "I am agreed. I presume 
mother will vote for Mr. Van Buren, as he is quite 
a lady's man.''' 

"Andrew," said Mrs. Earle, "your mother would 
wish that a president of the United States should be 
a gentleman; but something more is requisite to 
govern a people well, than to know how to bow and 
simper in a drawing-room. " 



GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. lOl 

"Ah !" said Andrew, "I see how all the world are 
going. If the ladies are opposed to Mr. Van Buren, 
there is little chance for the re-election of my suc- 
cessor." 

"Come, prepare your votes," said Captain Earle, 
"I am quite impatient to have the question settled." 

"Mother," said Jose, "won't you vote?" 

"I have prepared two votes," said Mrs. Earle. 
"Perhaps, however, you would prefer that your 
father should write one for you." 

"I guess father and mother will vote for the same 
candidate," said Jose; "for I have heard you say, 
that husband and wqfe must pull at the same end of 
the rope." 

"Quite smart, Jose, and quite true," said Captain 
Earle. "Are you all ready ? Come, Jose, you hand 
round the ballot-box^ 

"We haven't any ballot-box," said Jose. 

"Well, take that little basket. Don't put in two 
votes — one vote each.^'' 

"Here, Jose, hand it to your mother first," said 
Captain Earle. 

"To your father next," said Mrs. Earle. 

"Now bring the basket to me. Have all voted ?" 

"No," said, Jose, "I haven't put my vote in." 

"Well, hand in your vote, as they say at the 
electors' meeting. All in ? all voted ? the box — I 
mean the basket — is ready to be closed. One minute 
more — onlv one. The box is closed.^' 



102 GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 

"Now let US count. The first vote is for William 
Henry Harrison ; the second, William Henry Harri- 
son the third, same ; the fourth, same ; the fifth, 
same; the sixth — " 

Captain Earle paused. "The sixth — " 

"Ah!" said William, "that's Afidrew's votQ — for 
whom is it ?" 

"You are not certain that it is Andrew's — it may 
be your mother's." 

"Well, for whom is it, father? Pray, let us 
know." 

"The sixth is for — for — for — William Henry Har- 
rison V 

"Good! good !" exclaimed Thomas. 

"Yes, good it is, good enough," said Captain 
Earle. "\ hope the autumnal election will tell as 
well as ours has to-night !" 

''T wish the ladies might all vote/' said Jose, 
^'mother has voted so well." 

'T suspect, my son," said Mrs. Earle, ''if the la- 
dies had a voice in the matter they would vote for 
some one who would so manage that their husbands 
and children should have/^<?^ and clothing.'" 

''Good times after this," said William. "Under 
my administration I hope you will have food and 
clothes, and in abundance. Andrew, I thank you 
for your vote." 

"Why," said Andrew, "you know I could not 



GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 



103 



well vote for myself, Billy ; and as to my successor 
in office, he didn't manage as well as I expected, 
and I myself believe he may with advantage to the 
country return to Ki fide r hook.'' 

"I hope he may," said Captain Earlc, ^^most sin- 
cerely I do, and that his successor may be 

'The iron-hearted soldier, the true-hearted soldier, 
The gallant old soldier of Tippecanoe!' " 

We who know the resvdt of the election of 1841, can thus 
endorse the old saying that 'many a true word is spoken in 
jest.' 



Review of tlie Life of Gen. Benjamin Harrison 







CHAPTER X. 

"Some nieu are born great— some acliive Ki'eatiiess— some 
have greatness thrust upon them."— Twelfth Night. 

One of the greatest perogatives of this glorious republic, 
is the fact, that no jnatter how lowly a citizen of it may he 
born, lie has the chance of ultimately holding the proudest 
position that the world can otTer, viz, the Presidency of the 
United States; and if we trace back through the history of 
this country, we shall find the record of many presidents, 
who began life at the bottom rung of the ladder. 

In giving a review of the life of our President, we find 
such a one, who commenced life as a poor man, and who, 
by dint of energy and pluck, has raised himself to that pia- 
icle of fame, whicli makes him the envv and admiration 
uf his fellow men. 

104 



OilANbFATilER ANi) GKANDSOK. 105 

Born in his grandfather's house at North Bend, Ohio, on 
the 20th of August, 1833, his hoyhood was spent in this out 
of the way spot, until he went to Farmer's College, where 
he stayed two years; and Avhen transferred from there to 
Miami University, he was so well endowed in his studies 
and general information, as to at once enter as Junior, in 
the latter institution. So much has been said about the 
''Log Cabin" that we cannot refrain from describing the 
birth place of General Harrison. There is a tongue of land 
nearly five miles long, extending southward fi*om the old 
Harrison home-stead, at NoHh Bend, its lower part touch- 
ing the boundary line of Indiana, the north side, is swept 
by the Miami Eiver, whilst the Ohio rolls placidly by 
on the southern side. On the peninsula, as some might 
call it, is what was the farm of John Scott Harrison; father 
of "Our President," who was reckoned a good farmer; for 
whatever else he might have been, he could certainly lay 
claim to understanding how to farm his land. Had it not 
been for his generosity, and a judgment too easily cheat- 
ed, by people who Avormed their way into his confidence, he 
might have left his family provided for at his death; but as 
it was, through his good nature, he left no estate. For 
prior to his death, the heirs of Judge Short took posession 
of his farm, and it was through their kindness and out of 
the great respect they bore him, that he was allowed to 
continue in its occupancy. His house fronted the Ohio 
River; the dining room which was the common sitting room, 
was large and commodious, with the usual wide open fire- 
place; in this room it was the custo/n of the family to as- 
semble, particularly in the Avinter evening, around a central 
table; liglit was obtained from the old fashioned tallow dips, 
aided by the flame from the fire place; in front of which the 
mother would sit knitting socks for the boys and listening 
to the conversation, or reading, of the younger folks. I'e- 



106 ftEANfoFATHER Al<:b OllAKt)805.^ 

tween the river and the house was a srnall old fashioned 
log school house; this cabin was, as is usual with such build- 
ings of the very plainest, the floor being formed of punch- 
eon, and having windows small and few; the great fire place 
was at one end, and being filled with logs in the morning 
would thus last all day; for seats, there Avere benches, 
without backs, formed of slabs, with supports of sticks fitted 
in through auger-holes. It was in this lowly cabin, that 
young Harrison commenced his education; his time being- 
taken up in seasons when the crops were being planted, or 
harvested, with such employment as was suitable to him, as 
a farmer's boy of his age. For amusement there was fishing 
and hunting, the rivers close by being well stocked with 
fish, while squirrels were plentiful in the woods, and in 
their season ducks were very abundant; Benjamin was an 
expert shot, particularly with the rifle. 

A custom handed down from the first General Harrison 
when at home, was to invite the congregation of the Church 
to the old homestead, where often plates for fifty or more 
were laid, and on such occasions the board was profusely 
covered with the good things of this life; every thing being 
the product of the farm. When at the Miami University, 
young Harrison met the daughter of president Scott, a 
young lady, described as being girlish, intelligent, witty 
and attractive, and too whom he became engaged, she being 
all that went to make up his ideal of a perfect women, and 
to whom, on the 20th of October, 1853, he was married. 
He then went to live with his wife, at his father's place 
where he continued to study We next find him, looking 
out for a place, where he could begin life, as a bread-win- 
ner, and after serious consideration, he at last decided, that 
Indianapolis was the spot, where he went for that purpose 
in March, 1854, and in which place, he has resided ever 
since. 



GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 107 

He was barely twenty-one, when he settled there with his 
wife; with little of this world's goods to call his own, but he 
had a good education, and determined to make the law his 
profession, his fortune consisted of the sum of $800; money 
advanced on a piece of property he had inherited from an 
Aunt who married James Finley, a soldier of the war of 
1812, and who left her a widow; this sum was not large 
enough to purchase a house, or ren^a separate office, h> 
therefore secured boarding for himself and wife, in the Koll 
House, below the Bank building, corner of Maryland 
Street. His first desk was in the State Bank building, situ- 
ated in the triangular corner, opposite the Bates House; this 
was kindly offered him by Mr. John H. Eea, who was clerk 
of the United States District Court, here he put out his 
shingle, and the world learnt, that Benjamin Harrison, 
Attorney at Law, did business at that stand. In appear- 
ance he is described as being short, of slender physique, and 
what might be called a blonde, with grey eyes tinged with 
blue, dressing plainly, and indifferent as to styles; modest 
in manners, with a pleasant voice and look, and possessed 
of a good flow of language. It may not be interest- 
ing to know that the first money he earned, was as. Court 
Crier of the Federal Court, for which service he received 
during term time, the sum of two dollars and a half per 
day. His first professional fee, was a five dollar gold piece, 
paid to him at the door of his unpretentious three roomed 
house. During the first year of his career in Indianapolis, 
he had a case in which he was employed as prosecutor 
against a colored cook of the Koy House, whose alleged 
crime was putting arsenic in the hotel coffee, in revenge for 
some real or fancied grievance. Counsel for the defend- 
ant was Henry W. Ellsworth (son of Henry L. Ellsworth, 
who was for many years Commissioner of Patents), Mr. 
Harrison was less than half his antagionist's age, with but 



108 GKANDFATHEK AM) GRANDSON. 

a short experience at the bar, and pitted against a man of 
considerable professional experience; every one thongiit 
the result would be to his entire discomfiture, this notion 
was entirely dissipated the first day of the trial, for in his usual 
and quiet Avay, the young and comparatively unknown 
lawyer, so overmatched his big and pretentious antagon- 
ist, that the two seemed to have changed places. Sufiice it 
to say that the negro was convicted, and sent to the })eni- 
tentiary. From this time on his success was comparatively 
rapid, and was very much strengthened by his speeches in 
the first National Contest of 1856, and which may be called 
his maiden effort in the political service in Avhich he has 
risen to the highest point. In 1860 he was nominated to the 
position of reporter in the Supreme Court, and entered on 
the duties, early in 1861, and though not a lucrative office, 
still to a young lawyer whose income was small, it was a 
great help. In the meantime he had changed his 
boarding house from EoU's to a Mrs. Jameson's in a small 
frame building, nearly oi)posite the Dennison House. 

Whilst Mrs. Harrison was on a visit to Oxford; Russell, 
her eldest child, was born on the 12th of August, 1854, and 
upon returning home in the fall, the room in Mrs. Jame- 
son's was given up, and a modest one-story house, witli 
tliree apartments, was taken; in this unpretentious abode, 
the now resident of the White House, and his wife, began 
their house-keeping experiences, Mrs. Harrison was 
herself the house-keeper, and with the occasional aid 
of "a help," assisting all she could, during all this 
time Mr. Harrison fought hard against getting into debt, 
and in this was successful through all this struggle for 
existence, patiently, and with never a thought of com- 
plaint, he worked hard for the cherised wife of his bosom, 
and the dear little ones at home, possessed of ambition his ev 
ery exertion was spurred on by thoughts of theiu. Whilst a 



GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 109 

tenant of the little house in Vermont Street, he received 
an offer to go into partnership with Mi. William Wallace, 
which he accepted, and together the}' went into business at 
Temperance Hall, on Washington Street, and remained so 
until 1860, when Mr. Wallace was elected clerk of Marion 
county, this caused the partnership to be dissolved, and 
was succeeded by that of Fishback and Harrison, which 
lasted until Mr. Harrison entered the Army in 1862, and 
now appeared on the horizon of time, that cloud, no bigger 
than a man's hand, that was to ultimately darken and 
throw this whole country into gloom; the great slavery 
question was in a state of ferment, the question be- 
tween the North and South, growing out of the fact of 
the latter insisting upon their right to carry slavery into 
the territories, had advanced to a point of bitterness un- 
known in the history of the United States. Talk of war 
was whispered about, and the nation at large was looking 
eagerly on, watching for the first move to be taken by those 
in power. When the news of the firing on Fort Sumter 
was brought Mr. Harrison, he could do no more work on 
that day, and like the loyal thousands of the North, his 
thoughts were only of the insulted flag, and the danger of 
the Union. Like many other patriotic citizens, he put 
aside all personal feelings, and in July, 1862, entered the 
Army, a little higher than a private, as a second lieutenant, 
with a recruiting commission, raising a company of which 
he was made captain. On the seventh of August he was 
appointed Colonel of the 70th Indiana Regiment by Gov- 
ernor Morton, who being a good judge of character, thought 
he saw the making of a good soldier in him. 

During his first two years service, nothing of importance 
occurred worthy of mention, his duties mainly consisting 
of guarding bridges and commissiary stores, fighting 
guerrillas, and capturing spies. As a disciplinarian he was 



no GKAXDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 

exceedingly strict, but many incidents of his goodness at 
heart might be told that occurred during his command; on 
long forced marches it was no unusual sight to see the 
Colonel walking, while some poor foot-sore private was 
astride of his horse. One private of the regiment, now living 
in Kansas, telegraphed to General Harrison on his nomina- 
tion, "The congratulations of an old soldier of your regi- 
ment whose knapsack you carried when he was exhausted 
from sickness and fatigue." 

In the Athmta campaign he seemed to bear a charmed 
life, being always seen where the bullets were thickest. 
The battle of Resacca was a memorable engagement, the 
Confederates being the attacking party, during part of the 
fight it was a fierce struggle to see who could hold the 
commanding position, the Harrison regiment, and others 
making up the brigade pressing rapidly up toward the crest 
of the hill, after reaching the top they met the enemy face 
to face, bayonets were thrust, and muskets clubbed, at this 
time the Eebels captured the battery on the Union right, 
and immediately turned the guns on our men, so as to pour 
into them the most destructive infilade fire, it looked like 
disaster particularly as the mule trains close in the rear of 
the troops were filling up the road, and clogging the bridge 
in a wav that made a stampede imminent, in the midst of 
all this. General Harrison was seen riding up and down, 
right in front of the line, waving his sword and calling on 
the boys to stand firm. His example held the troops, they 
retook the battery, and prevented what at one time, looked 
like complete ruin. 

In the Summer of 1864, the following order was received 
by Colonel Harrison, of Avhich this is a copy, 

Headquarters, Military Division of the Mississippi, 
In the field, xVtlanta, Ga., Sept. 12, 1864. 
Special Field Orders, I ^^^^^^^^ 

HI. Pursuant to instruction from the War Department, 



GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. Ill 

the following officers will report in person, to Hon. (). 
P. Morton, Governor of Indiana, at Indianapolis, Ind., 
for special duty. The Quarter-Master's Department 
will furnish transportation. By the order of 

Major General \V. T. Sherman, 

I.. W. Dayton, Aid-de-Camp. 
Col. Ben. Harrison, 

70th Reg't. Ind. Inf. Vol. 

Immediately on his arrival at Indianapolis he reported 
to Governor Morton, when he was told the nature 
of the duties required of him. This was the first 
opportunity of visiting his family after having been con- 
tinuously in the field for two years; his special duty now 
was to thoroughly canvass the State for recruits, who had 
been slow to offer themselves, and upon the ninth of No- 
vember, he finished the canvas. 

Colonel Harrison received the rank of Brigadier-General 
under a commisson signed by Abraham Lincoln, and 
counter-signed by E. W. Stanton, Secretary of War, dated 
March 22nd, 1865, in which it states that it was given "for, 
ability and manifest energy and gallantry in command of 
the brigade," and also he was to rank as such, Brevet- 
Brigadier-General from the 23rd day of January, of the 
year mentioned. 

His certificate of discharge shows a muster out of the 
service, Benjamin Harrison, Colonel and Brevet-Brigadier 
70th regiment of Indiana, Infantry Volunteers; that he was 
enrolled on the 7th day of August, 1862, to serve three 
years or during the war, and was discharged on the 8th 
day of June, 1865, at Washington, D. C. -by reason of 
General Order 77 Adjutant General's office 1865 and in- 
structions. Adjutant General's office. May 20th, 1865. 

As a soldier, as in anything else General Harrison un- 
dertakes, he was successful; going out without any military 
training whatever, he is spoken of as becoming one of the 



ll!> GllANt>FAtHKR ASb OUAKftSOK. 

Closest students of the science and art of war there was in 
the army. We have not the space in this review to give a 
lengthy account of his career as a soldier, although we 
might till pages with incidents therefrom, — at New Hope 
Church— ^t (irilgal Church — at Kenesaw — at Peach Tree 
Creek, and elsewhere, did h^ display that wonderful pluck- 
that was here brought out from him and many another 
man who at home were peaceable citizens. 

In 1880 we find him in the National Conventiou at 
C'hicago, chairman of the delegation from Indiana, and 
when many delegates insisted on using his name for the 
first nomination, he positively declined. In 1884 he again 
represented his State as delegate-at-large, and he was again 
discussed in connection with the nomination for the first 
place on the National ticket. The National Republican 
convention at Chicago on the 19th day of June, 1889, is 
still too fresh in everybody's mind, to require a detailed ac- 
count; suffice it to say that the eighth and decisive ballot 
showed 544 votes for General Harrison and the nomination 
was of course unanimous. 

The balloting for a Vice-President candidate was entered 
upon immediately that order was restored and the nomi- 
nators were made. There was but one ballot; Levi P. Mor- 
ton leading the list with 59 votes. — And now his honors 
thick upon him Benjamin Harrison is installed in the 
Presidential Chair, placed there with the confidence of the 
people, and when his term of office has expired, may Re- 
publican and Democrats alike, be able to exclaim; well 
done thou gocd and faithful servant. 



The Cost of a President. 

The sole income of the President of the United State 
from the public treasury is his salary of 850,000 a year. 
He draws it at the rate of $4,166| a month. This is a 
fraction more than $960 a week, and $160 each for six 
workino- da vs. 

• Until Grant's time Presidents lived on half this salary. 
Experience has shown that the present sum is large enough 
to cover the expenses of the most extravagant households, 
and to leave a comfortable balance in the purse of a presi- 
dential family of moderate ideas. 

Yet there is not another magistrate at the head of any 
people exceeding the number of 10,000,000 who does not re- 
ceive a larger salary than the august, potent and toiling 
President of the United States. 

ROYALTY COMES HIGH. 

The Shah of Persia, who has nothing to do except to boss 
several hundred wives, is in the enjoyment of an income of 
$30,000,000 a year. Then there is the Czar of Russia, 
whose cheif duty is to keep from being blown up. He is 
paid something like §10,000,000 yearly. The dignified 
King of Siam gets along on a like sum. The royal family 
of poor, miserable Spain, receive $3,900,000 every year, and 
Italians sleep <.)Ut of doors and eat nothing but macaroni to 
make up a purse of $3,000,000 and more for their royalties. 

Such figures as these console the British peop e somewhat 
or their annual outlay, under specifiic laws, of $2,915,000 
on Victoria and her family, to say nothing of indirect ex- 
tortions and perquisits. Even now, when the Queen is 
parading an economical investigation of the royal pay-roll, 
and is turning off her master of the buckhounds, her yeo- 
men of the guard and similar absolete guys of the opera 

113 



114 GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 

bouffe, her purpose is not to save anything for the pub- 
lic treasury, but to provide a fund from which she may 
hereafter support her grandchildren, without risking a re- 
buff" from Parliment on the one hand or parting with her 
own cash on the other. 

That reformed pirate of the seas, the Sultan of Morocco, 
is slightly compensated for his self-denial by an annual al- 
lowance of $2,500,000, and the Mikado of Japan, whom we 
have all seen across the f<jotlights, receives $2,300,000. 
The impotent royalty of Egypt draws $1,575,000 from the' 
substance of that tax ridden land, while the Hohenzollerns 
content themselves with a yearly tribute of $1,125,000 from 
the Prussian empire. Even the Sultan of cotton-clouted 
Zanzibar, pockets a million a year, and $700,000 are wrung 
from the Saxons of Saxony, no more considerable a commu- 
nity than Illinois in population or Massachusetts in geog- 
raphical area, by the reighning duke and his purpled gang. 
Portugal. Sweden and Brazil each spend about $600,000 on 
their Kings. 

With fewer people than li^'e in some New York wards, 
and with only tAvo-thirds of Khode Island's area, the petty 
princelings of Schwarzburg Soudershausen are paid $150,- 
000. 

On the other hand, the republic of France allows lier 
chief magistrate only S200,000, but naked little Hayti gives 
her presidential crowd $240,000 a year, Switzerland's Presi- 
dents comes the lowest of all the nations of the earth, his 
salary is $3,000 a year. 

The wholly useless Governor-General of Canada receives 
$50,000 and so also does the Governor-General of Victoria, 
while the like functionary in India has a salary of $200,- 
000. 

THE PRESIDENT AND HIS HOUSEHOLD. 

It appears from these cj[Uotations that, in view of the fact 
this is the only nation on the globe with a treasury surplus 



GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 115 

and in view of our relative size among governments' we get 
our ruling done at bottom rock price. But while not a 
cent, more than $50,000 goes into the presidential pocket, 
that figure does not represent the cost of the Presidency. By 
far the biggest item in this expense account is the 
sum spent in electing a President every four years. No 
nation lavishes such a tremendous sum as we do in the suc- 
cession to the chief magistracy. 

A careful estimate of the total public cost yearly of the 
White House, including everything from the President's 
salary down, is about Si 50,000. 

Following are the items in this estimate: 



r> 



THE SALARIES. 

The President $50,000 

The private secretary 3,250 

The assistant secretary 2,250 

Six clerks ' 11,200 

A telegraph operator 1.400 

The steward l^SOO 

*An usher 1,400 

Four messengers 4,800- 

Five doorkeepers 6,000 

A watchman 900 

The engineer 864 

Total $83,864 

That is the list as it appears in the blue book. But in 
addition to that there are detailed at the IVhite House sev- 
en policeman, whose salaries aggregate $7,560. This in- 
creases the total to SO J, 224. Then the book of estimates of 
the current year calls for the following alloAvances: 

SPECIAL, APPROPRIATIONS. 

The President's contingent fund $8,000 00 

Care repair and furnishing the mansion 16,000 00 

Gas, lamplighters, fitters, labororers, erection and 

repair of lightning apparatus, matches, etc. . . 14,000 00 



116 GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON. 

Fuel . . 3,000 00 

Repair of the water pipes and the cleaning of 

the spring 800 00 

Care and repair of tlie greenhouses 5,000 00 

Improvement and maintenance of tlie grounds . 6,500 00 

Erecting and maintaining electric lights .... 2,788 50 

A watchman 060 00 

Total allowances $56,748 50 

Salary list 91,424 00 

Grand total ■ . . $148,172 50 

In addition to these already enumerated are four waiters 
and pantrymen, a marketman, an assistant cook, a house- 
keeper, a lamplighter, a fireman, two laundiy-women, a 
gardener and about a dozen assistants, two stablemen and 
a driver. This makes the total number of people employed 
at public expense, at the White House, 57. But I believe 
the specific appropriations and the allowances which I 
have quoted cover about the entire public expense of the 
presidential establishment. The President pays the chief 
cook, who resides over tlie kitchen during the social season, 
out of his private funds. 

The Government aims to provide the President with 
everything, from his matches to his silver service, except- 
ting only the important item of food. 

The people woiild submit to a good deal larger expendi- 
ture at the executive mansion. They seem to want some- 
thing glittering and impressive there. 

(Boston Globe.) 



HELLO THERE, CENTRAL! 

' BETTER THAN EVER AND BEST OF ALL. 

OLD JUDGE CIGARETTES are manufactured with spe- 
cial care, from the finest grades of Sun-cured Virginia Leaf, 
carefully selected on account of its rich flavor and delicate 
aroma. 

OLD JUDGE CIGARETTES contain no drugs, flavorings 
or injurious substances, but are absolutely pure. 

OLD JUDGE CIGARETTES have stood the test of all 
competition, and are to-day, as they always were, the leading 
Cigarettes of the world. 

GOODWIN & CO., Manufacturers, 

NEW YORK, U. S. A. 

SOLD ALL OVER THE AVORLD. 



Dr. M. NKY SNIITH, 

Pavs Special Attention to the Treatment of PILES, FISTULA 

and RECTAL ULCERS. Cured in a short time by a 

new Painless Method. No Knife or Ligature used. 




TAPEWORMS 



Removed alive 

in from 40 to 90 
__ _ minutes COM- 

PLETE WITH HEAD OR NO CHARGE. 

NO FASTING OR STARVING REQUIRED 

No Poisonous Medicine. No Bad T^ftects 
Follow Treatment. Child or Adult Can 
Take Medicine With Ease. 

Send 3c stamp for circular giving symp- 
toms;, testimonials, etc. 

Dr. M. NEY SMITH, Specialist, 

Consultation Free and Private. 
Office, 718 Olhe St., ST. LOUIS, MO. 



iii; 



Burlington 




St. Louis, MM & Nortiiwestem , ; 



Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 



■■;;i'i 



FtAir-ROAO. 





SOLID THROUGH TRAINS MK I 

Are Run Via the ' •<',>;'.:!•. -n 

*■*■ IBijLrlirLgrtorL ISoiJLte^" 

Between 

St. Louis and St. Joseph and Denver, 

Where Connections are Made for 

•_ All Pacific Coast Points, 

These Trains are composed of Pullman Palace Sleeping Cars, 

Free Reclining Chair Cars and Luxurious Day Coaches, 

with Combination Sleeping and Free Chair Cars, 

and Dining Car Service, direct to 



"A 




♦ ♦ ♦ SOLID* THROUGH TRAINS, ♦ ♦ ♦ 

Are also Run Between 



St. Louis and Minneapolis and St. Paul, mm 

Making Connections at these Points for 

Portland, Tacoma, Seattle and All Points North and West. 






For Tickets, Folders and Further Information call on or address the 
Agent of the Company at 

No. 112 North Fourth Street, 

ST. LOUIS, MO. •:'=! 



':!!!' 

•!:;<! 









